Promoting From Within

Westerville Walkway gives local artists

A Place At Festival

By Leah Wolf

WESTERVILLE’S ANNUAL celebration of the arts is known for the wide variety of artists and crafters it brings from all over – and it has a specific area set aside for hometown artists.

Set in the beautiful Heritage Park and Everal Barn July 14-15, the Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce Music and Arts Festival draws an estimated 18,000 people with a wide array of things to see and do. Among those many options is the Westerville Walkway.

The Westerville Walkway, designated with its own archway, celebrates local and emerging artists. It typically draws 25 to 30 participants from Westerville and surrounding communities.

“It’s about supporting everything that is local,” says Erin Glaser, Westerville Chamber marketing and communications manager. “We have between 25 and 30 artists in that area. … Pretty much anything you’ll find in the main show, you’ll find at the Walkway as well, but there are more local artists.”

Richard and Alice Altman have been selling their hand-rolled beeswax candles in the Westerville Walkway for four years.

“Our favorite part about the festival is the environment of Heritage Park and all of the wonderful people who attend the festival,” says Richard. “We’ve met so many people who are starting their own beehives, and the conversations are priceless.”

The festival’s full roster of fine artists and craftspeople sports more than 140 names, while the music line-up offers a main stage with seven or eight bands each day and a second stage set aside for community acts such as the Westerville Symphony. Other festival highlights include a silent auction on the bottom floor of the Everal Barn, a youth exhibit on the top floor of the barn and youth entertainment throughout.

As the festival moves toward its 40th anniversary in 2013, some adjustments are being made.

The festival will run from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, two hours longer than in the past, while Sunday will again run 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. A second trolley will be added to transport patrons from parking lots to the festival grounds and back, and Amazing Giants stilt-walkers will be striding around the festival grounds to add a new element of excitement to a festival that has become such an iconic part of Westerville’s summer.

Leah Wolf is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@pub groupltd.com.

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By Garth Bishop