Arts Fest Big Success (Posted 3/9/2010 01:40 pm)
By Christopher Amos
Music and the smell of spicy food filled the air at the first ABC Festival. The day-long event Saturday on the downtown square featured art, business and craft of the area.

Art, photography, pottery, jewelry and household crafts were displayed or sold along the walk. Home-made jewelry booths were mixed among those of larger local businesses.

Musicians rotated regularly in the gazebo, keeping a constant flow of folk, art-rock and soul music flowing over the crowd. Bands and musicians included Confederate Soul, T.D. Baker, A Company of Wayward Singers, Terry Allen Hall and Carole Dello Russo. Other local musicians joined the groups or sang solo between acts.

“I think it was a big success,” Bill Heath said as he helped his wife, Heather, sell Scentsy wickless candles and scents. “It was a little cold this morning, but the crowd really came out when the weather got nicer.”

A warm spot in the morning was near the blazing fire of metalsmith John Jove on the west side of the square as he hammered and bent iron into Western art and useful utensils.

Alvarado Chamber of Commerce president Jacob Wheat estimate 300 people came to the downtown square and wondered past his booth featuring Cajun music and fresh boiled crawfish.

“Get a load of this,” Kathrine Mata said as she lifted the lid of highly spiced crawfish.

“I would like to thank the city for their support and help during the arts festival,” Wheat added. “Promoting the downtown square continues to be a goal of the chamber,”

Other entertainment included demonstrations by Dance Fusion and Alvarado West Point Karate Academy.
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Alvarado Star = Alvarado News