Last August, the group of area artists came up with the idea of combining their art show with a full-fledged community festival. Held in Westover, the two-day event attracted such positive response that it is back again this year and will likely be an annual event for years to come.

The expanded program of activity, including live entertainment, food from the Westover Café and a nostalgic atmosphere created by costumed volunteers from nearby Westfield Heritage Village, contributed to the success of last year's country festival. More of the same will highlight this summer's rendition being held Saturday, August 23 and Sunday, August 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

All of the activities will take place in and around the three main buildings situated in the hamlet of Westover at the corner of Westover Road and 6th Concession Road West. The Westover Café (formerly the general store), the Westover Women's Institute (W.I.) Hall and the old barn (once a blacksmith shop) that stands between the store and the hall will be open for visitors to view the works, talk to some of the artists and try some tasty treats prepared by Mary Boyd in the cafe.

The Westover Artists, a non-profit group formed in 1999 with members from Waterdown, Lynden, Dundas, Ancaster and Westover, is hosting the weekend festival. Elsie Irvine, president and founding member, said the group has been working out details of the event since June and has made a special effort to expand the program of activities and ensure that the festival is well publicized.

"It was very successful during its first year," she said. "Everyone was delighted with it and we received a lot of favourable comments."

The festival helped generate more exposure of the artists' works and more interest from the public. "It has done much better than just an individual art show," Irvine noted.

Watercolors, oils, pastels and pen and ink sketches by members of the artists' group will be exhibited in the W.I. Hall and café, as well as in a couple of tents erected on the corner.

Fourteen members of the Westover group will take part this summer, up four from last year. Besides Irvine of Westover, they are: Angelika Plath-Godfrey, Johanna and Michael Geear, and Joyce Canfield, all of Waterdown; Marg Banks, Mary Johnson and Doris Kivell, all of Lynden; Ev Wagg, Betty Wamsley, Betty Kennedy and Bob Mason, all of Dundas; Monique Arbour of Jerseyville and Wanda Kuras of the Valens area.

The old barn will house several vendors, who will be displaying a variety of wares, including arts and crafts. Others will be set up outside.

A unique jewellery display manned by Jane Kaiser of Lynden and her friend, Barbara MacDougall, is expected to generate a lot of interest. "It's just out of this world," Irvine said. "It's most unusual."

Linda Baine of Freelton will be on hand, knitting and weaving from angora goat fibres, Flamborough artisan Sarah Borsellino will display small crafts and charms, Brock Road resident Elsa Eyford will show her quilting and knitting, Lynden metal artist will show garden art pieces and Jean Bercowski of Waterdown will feature knitting and crocheting as well as some woodworking by her husband. In addition, Aubrey Hicks of Milton will display antiques and collectibles; Rockton potter Pavlo Tsarynny will have a booth, as will Hamilton woodcarver Clarence Westhouse. Rounding out the roster of unique vendors at the festival will be Flowerhill Farms of the 6th Concession, with perennials, and stained glass by Janet Mercer, owner of Eclipse Design Stained Glass in Dundas.

Four members of the Community Church Photography Club in Waterdown will present a pictorial display and a collection of handcrafted candles by Lisa's Candles, which has a Rockton workshop, will also be featured.

There will be plenty of other activities to entertain festival goers. Jim Wamsley, a Dundas resident and member of the Hamilton Amateur Astronomer's Club, will invite guests to look at the sun through a telescope mounted outside while Wamsley's daughter, Celia, will dress as a clown and supervise a table featuring children's balloons and small games. Fourth Concession resident Ron Sealey and his band of old-time fiddlers will provide entertainment throughout Saturday and possibly on Sunday. In addition, a small display of antique cars will be on site and the Westfield Heritage Village volunteers dressed in Victorian garb will present a short performance called "History on Parade," including a high-stepping dance, at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., Saturday.

Sponsors

To help cover the festival's expenses, there will be several raffles for prizes donated by local businesses and individuals, including pies from the Rockton Berry Farm, gift certificates from Agro Mushrooms, a gift basket from Greensville Gourmet, jewellery from Beads of Dundas, dinner for two from Flamboro Downs, an astronomer's kit from Jim Wamsley and a car kit from Action Sanitation, Greensville. The draw for prizes will take place Sunday at 3:30 p.m.

Irvine said the Westover Artists are thankful for $100 donations from the Lynden Legion and Assante Wealth Management of Burlington in support of the festival. After expenses are covered, proceeds of the festival will be donated to the Westover W.I. to foster its work in the community and abroad.