(Posted June 14, 2002)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Visitors seeking great art, enthusiastic music groups, children's activities and regional art exhibits can see all that and more at the 29th annual Huntingdon County Arts Festival, to be held June 28 from 5 to 9 p.m. and June 29 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the Juniata College campus.

Admission and parking is free.

Attractions at the two-day festival include a classic car show, an art exhibit of works by adult and youth from around the region, live entertainment, a food court and extensive children's activities. For further information on festival activities, please call Anna Harris, festival director at (814) 643-5765.

The festival's juried art show, which features adult and youth divisions, will be exhibited in the Ellis College Center ballroom during festival hours. Visitors interested in fabric art can see a quilt show in the faculty lounge in Ellis College Center. The quilt exhibition will be juried. A raffle featuring a patriotically themed quilt as the prize will be held Saturday, June 29.

The art of car styling will be on full display at the festival's classic car show and (Ford) Mustang reunion. The vintage automobiles can be seen in the parking lot of Ellis College Center. Registration of the show is at 9 a.m. in the parking lot. Trophies will be awarded in various categories.

Those seeking exercise and a physical challenge can enter the 5K Run and Walk, Saturday, June 29 at 8:30 a.m. The race starts at Knox Stadium's track. Registration for the race is from 7 to 8:30 a.m.

Children and other visitors can take in a variety of activities at the Children's Tent from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday on the Founders Hall lawn. Fiddle Fantastic, also known as musician Bruce Young, will perform dulcimer demonstrations. Children's storytellers Middle Earth Studios will perform storytelling sessions at noon, 2, 4 and 6 p.m. In addition there will be crafts, balloons and games at the tent.

During the festival, local artisans and craft hobbyists will display and sell their work in the Oller Hall parking lot (off Moore Street, directly opposite the Brumbaugh Science Center). Craft booths include pottery, woodcrafts, stained glass art, paintings and jewelry.

A variety of food booths will feature everything from snack food to international cuisine in the Oller Hall parking lot during festival hours on Friday and Saturday.

Entertainment will range from jazz and reggae to gospel music and show tunes. All performances will be in the Performing Arts Tent on Oller Hall lawn directly in front of the building.
The festival entertainment schedule is as follows:

Friday, June 28.


--5 p.m. Gospel singer Diane McDaniel will perform a variety of gospel and spiritual music.

--6 p.m. The State College-based Urban Fusion band will play instrumental jazz.

--8 p.m. The Sons of Steel, an ensemble that plays steel drum music, will perform.

Saturday, June 29


--10 a.m. Awards for the 5K Run and Walk will be handed out.

--10:30 a.m. The Mount Union Twirlers baton group will perform.

--11 a.m. The Sons of Steel steel drum band will perform.

--1 p.m. Children's entertainer Allie and Friends will perform a show appropriate for children of all ages.

--2 p.m. Ventriloquist Steve Engle will entertain with his partner Dusty and Company.

--3 p.m. The Mount Union Dance Team will perform.

--4 p.m. Pianist Dave Henri will play Just Jazz during his set.

--6 p.m. The McConnellstown Playhouse Performers will present a program of show tunes from contemporary and classic musicals.

--7:30 p.m. The Earthtones, a reggae group, will close out the festival entertainment.

Also on Saturday, June 29, the Moore Street Pro Musica will perform at 1:30 p.m. in the Juniata College Museum of Art, located in Carnegie Hall. The Identity Crisis Jugglers will roam throughout the festival lawns, performing feats of balance and skill all day Saturday.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.