More than 50 vendors scheduled for festival with food, live music

The 21st Annual Wilmore Arts and Crafts Festival is scheduled for Saturday and is an event Wilmore Mayor Harold Rainwater said will have something for everybody.

“Wilmore is excited to again host the Fall Festival on Main Street this Saturday.

As many as 50 (or more) vendors will present arts and crafts of quality and many downtown businesses will be open. From music, food, pony rides – there is something for all. Come join us for shopping, food, fun and fellowship in downtown Wilmore,” Rainwater said.

The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on East Main Street in Wilmore, with live music starting at 9:30 a.m. The Farmer’s Market and the Caboose Railside Museum will be open, as well as the East Main Street merchants. Children who attend can enjoy free horse rides on the nearby downtown Green between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. provided by the Asbury University Equine Center. The rain venue will be the Providence School, located at 210 S. Lexington Ave.

“Our local farmers will be selling end of season vegetables such as various squash, peppers, eggplant, garlic, popcorn, green beans, local honey, mums and country style floral arrangements,” Wilmore Community Development Board Executive Director Judy Woolums said. “This year (visitors can) expect to see woodworking, iron works, jewelry, copper crafts, various fiber arts, pottery, candles, soaps, photography and more. Approximately 53 vendors have registered (so far).”

Groups performing at the event include bluegrass Cane Run Band at 9:30 a.m.; acoustic folk quartet, TDH4 (Tall, Dark & Handsome) at 11 a.m.; Dixieland and ragtime Walnut Street Ramblers at 12:30 p.m.; and an old-time string band Barley Shaken String Band at 2:30 p.m.

Visitors to the Railside Museum will also have the opportunity to tour a retired train caboose which is no longer in use by train companies.

“The caboose is a museum of local history, Wilmore and High Bridge, and since this is a ‘train town,’” Woolums said. “There is much related to trains and their impact on this area. Volunteer Curator Ken Rickard, a lover of local history and trains, will be there to answer any questions.”

The festival, Woolums said, is also partnering with the Family Center located on East Main Street to present a full schedule of activities just for children. The center will offer an event by Walnut Johnson, featuring original and traditional folksy music with kazoo, guitar, banjo and special suitcase drums at 10 a.m.; Noon Art for Kids at 11:30 a.m. which focuses on Berean artists teaching painting techniques to children; and Crafting Christmas Cards at 1 p.m. Those who attend this event are encouraged to bring their phone/laptop with pictures and learn how to create their own Christmas card.

“The weather (looks) promising for an outdoor event and we have more vendors than ever before. We have three new shops on East Main which will be open as well. Serving up food will be two additional food vendors as well as our local restaurants,” Woolums said.

For more information visit http://www.wilmore.org/event/arts-crafts-festival.