ArtOberfest Returns: Hundreds join the fun on Market Street
After a couple of years of bad weather or outdoor circumstances, and having to cancel festivities last year due to COVID-19 concerns, the ArtOberfest event saw steady weather and an even better turnout with hundreds visiting Market Street to join in the fun Saturday. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Saturday’s festival was free, but donations were accepted at the entrance. All money raised from this event goes towards supporting the children’s art programs at the Parkersburg Art Center. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Aside from featuring two new exhibits, the Art Center chose Saturday to officially unveil their newest mural, which community members helped to create on the side of their building. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Local artisans put up booths at ArtOberfest Saturday to feature and sell their work. Among booths was one for the downtown ArtBeat Studio, which is run by Members of Wood County Society. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
After a couple of years of bad weather or outdoor circumstances, and having to cancel festivities last year due to COVID-19 concerns, the ArtOberfest event saw steady weather and an even better turnout with hundreds visiting Market Street to join in the fun Saturday. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Saturday’s festival was free, but donations were accepted at the entrance. All money raised from this event goes towards supporting the children’s art programs at the Parkersburg Art Center. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Aside from featuring two new exhibits, the Art Center chose Saturday to officially unveil their newest mural, which community members helped to create on the side of their building. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Local artisans put up booths at ArtOberfest Saturday to feature and sell their work. Among booths was one for the downtown ArtBeat Studio, which is run by Members of Wood County Society. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
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PARKERSBURG -- Restaurants were packed downtown for the ArtOberfest Saturday, which was complete with live music, fine art, beer, food, heritage craft demonstrations and the unveiling of the GoodSpace mural.
After a couple of years of bad weather or outdoor circumstances, and having to cancel festivities last year due to COVID-19 concerns, the ArtOberfest event saw steady weather and an even better turnout with hundreds visiting Market Street to join in the fun Saturday evening. Businesses such as the Parkersburg Art Center also opened their doors for the evening, allowing guests to warm up and enjoy what they have to offer.
The Parkersburg Art Center featured two new exhibits for attendees to peruse, "Sweet Fangs by Lavana Lemley" and "From the Natural To The Supernatural: The Life and Works of Susan Sheppard."
Lemley, a Vienna native and award winning mixed media sculptor and painter, debuted over 20 new works featuring candy-crusted, fanged creatures along with art from her archives.
Sheppard was a poet, author, artist and creator of the Haunted Parkersburg Ghost Tours who passed away in April of this year. The exhibit is to honor her and her creative legacy.
"The turn out for tonight's event has been phenomenal," said Jessie Seifert, managing director/education director for the Parkersburg Art Center.
Aside from featuring two new exhibits, the Art Center chose Saturday to officially unveil the new GoodSpace mural on the side of the building.
Members of the community provided input on the design and came out the past few weekends to take part in painting pieces of the mural.
"The picture represents our culture, our history, our art community and our aspirations for the future," said Seifert.
As a way to help make the ArtOberfest even more inclusive to the community as a whole, the Art Center partnered with Henderson Hall to bring in a whole new element to the annual event.
This partnership brought out other artisans such as local blacksmiths and woodworkers who may not normally set up demonstration booths at downtown events.
With so much to see, do and eat and drink, crowds were steady all through the evening.
"I enjoyed listening to the band outside, they were very good," said Drew Thomas, a community member who came out to support the event.
Saturday's festival was free, but donations were accepted at the entrance. All money raised from this event goes toward supporting the children's art programs at the Parkersburg Art Center.