By RENATA ROBINSON
Executive Director, Manchester Main Street

NORTH MANCHESTER — Manchester Main Street is extremely grateful for all the wonderful community support that helped make last weekend’s 3rd Annual Eel River Arts Festival a huge success.

The event, held Sept. 12, showcased North Manchester’s talented entertainers and amazing regional artists, and would not have been possible without the partnership of the town of North Manchester, North Manchester Garden Club, Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church and The Firehouse.

The Eel River Gardens, located at the intersection of Main and Market Streets in the heart of downtown, was beautifully transformed into a festive venue for creativity, imagination and fun. Set against the backdrop of North Manchester’s historic streetscape and overlooking the Eel River, what better way to highlight our beautiful town and scenic river?

Saturday’s Art Fair featured the unique pottery, jewelry, painting, mixed media and photography of 15 area artists: Hannah Burnworth (Milkhouse Studio), Vicki Carpenter (Vicki Lynn Jewelry), Kristy Church (Black Squirrel), Donna Clevenger (Recycled Fun 4 U), Roxanne Coffelt (Shanghai Tai), Susan Delauter (Life Repurposed), Monte Ellson (Big City Skylines), Carolina Forman (Sticky Stone), Britta Glass, Michele Graham (Michele Marie Photography, Photography by Jason Lenon), Marcy Pratt (True Beauty Dolls), Rick Reiff (Reiffhaus Studios), fine art by Susan Ring, Sue Scamihorn (Scamihorn Stoneware). Culinary artist Masters Hand BBQ also served up samples of their “Taste of Heaven” products.

Art demonstrations were provided by North Manchester artist Annie Shilling (pottery making) and Roann’s Restoration Services. Sonshine Greenhouse offered fall flowering mums, decorative kale, pumpkins and gourds for sale.

Local musicians performed through the day: Dave Hicks, Ken Preston, Linda Kummernuss, Greg and Annie Clark, Dale Carpenter, Andrew Chinworth, Maya Hippensteel, Kerry Flanigan and JP Freeman. Childrens’ activities included craft making workshops and Michele Marie Photography’s Fall Fun Photobooth for the entire family. Manchester Main Street also provided delicious food for sale prepared by Main View and Nordmann’s Nook.

We extend a heartfelt thank you to the Manchester Main Street Board members, countless volunteers and event attendees who played a huge role in creating a memorable Eel River Arts Festival. Special recognition goes out to Susan Manwaring for her tremendous help in organizing the kids craft activities and food, Dale Carpenter for coordinating the musical line-up, Janet Ecklebarger for creating and furnishing the on-site event banner, Jeff Diesburg and The Graphic Brand for advertising and marketing materials graphic design, JP Freeman for sound, and Lark Killingbeck, Diane Nettleton and Manchester University’s Artist Anonymous members, Angela Gonsiorwski, Sara Joll, Glyniss King, Jessica Klemm, Rebecca Minnich-Ullom and Sarandon Smith, for assisting and inspiring Saturday’s craft making creativity.

Eel River Arts Festival artists’ work and event photos can be viewed on Facebook. For more information, visit Manchester Main Street’s website, or contact Manchester Main Street Executive Director Renata Robinson at (260) 901-6045 or [email protected].