From humble roots, the Merrickville Festival of the Arts has blossomed into a multifaceted weekend with something for everyone.
Nick Previsich, director with the The Merrickville Organization for Culture & the Arts, said the festival started six years ago as a visual arts show. It now includes, poets, actors/theatre and music.
Previsich said there is a special emphasis on ensuring youngsters and families have plenty of things to engage in over two days at Blockhouse Park and Lions Pavilion.
There is a children’s music program on Saturday scheduled for 11 a.m., offering kids a chance to learn an instrument and play along with musicians, along with children’s story telling.
The afternoon will feature music in the pavilion from Jan Bentham, Jessica Lavallee, the Family Name and Emma Lamontagne.
A special reception and art exhibition is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. Saturday featuring 30 local artists presenting their interpretations of birds.
There are also two ‘Theatre Night in Merrickville’ presentations, one of each day of the festival.
Previsich said Merrickville is well known as an artistic community and the organization for culture and arts has blossomed over the years to now include 100 members.
Each year, organizers have added a few more things to the festival, which now attracts several thousand people in addition to locals.
“Local artists and businesses really help out. Our volunteer group run like clockwork…it’s quite a spectacular event.”
