A nice crowd turned out for the sixth annual Oakwood Fine Arts Festival.

By Lauren Zeugner
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE —  The Sixth Annual Oakwood Fine Arts Festival at the Oakwood Resort, 702 E. Lake View Road, Syracuse, drew a nice crowd Saturday, Aug. 15.

The event is sponsored by Chautauqua Wawasee.

Organizers required masks and attendees were asked to socially distance. Masks, hand sanitizer along with information about upcoming Chautauqua Wawasee events are available at the information tent. The Kosciusko County Community Foundation provided funds through its COVID Recovery Grant for the festival to purchase the hand sanitizer and masks.

Approximately 23 vendors were on hand offering a wide array of art, from jewelry, potter, silverwork, woodturning and wood furniture. “It’s a great show, a great community,” said Paul Albritton, a fine jeweler from Florida. “Even though this is a 5-hour show I do as well here as I do at a 4-day show in Ann Arbor, Mich.” Albritton has been a part of the Oakwood Fine Arts Festival since it started.

Nolan Riley works decorating a pot at the children’s art experience area of the Oakwood Fine Arts Festival.

Ann Driscoll of Fort Wayne is new to the festival this year. She was garnering a lot of interest with her handmade jewelry. This is her first year showing at the festival. “I had friends asking me if I would participate,” she said. “I’ve heard a lot of nice things about it.” While new to the festival, Driscoll does have a following in Syracuse, having had a booth at the Farmers and Artisans Market.

In addition to fine art, there is a children’s art experience area where children can decorate their own pot with paint, markers, or stickers. And a festival wouldn’t be complete without food. The Rove, Joe’s Ice Cream and Naomi’s candies are on hand to keep stomachs from growling.

Larry Lane, a festival volunteer, said organizers were pleased with the turn-out. “I think everyone just wanted to get out,” he said.