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The Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce Music and Arts Festival has been a highlight of the summer season in Westerville, Ohio for more than 34 years!

Come see why we are one of the most talked about festivals in Columbus and Central Ohio!  The 2008 Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce Music and Arts Festival dates are July 12 & 13, 2008 at Heritage Park.  Don't miss it!

[2008 Festival poster art designed by Otterbein student Abby Hudson]

 

History
 
Westerville Music and Arts Festival
For the past 35 years, the Westerville Music and Arts Festival has been a summer highlight for area residents.  Located in Westerville, Ohio, the Festival has changed venues several times through the years to handle growing crowds of an estimated 30,000 people for the weekend event. Exact attendance is not known because the event is free and no tickets are sold, but Westerville police estimate about 30,000 people filled Heritage Park for last year’s Festival.

This summer’s event marks the seventh year of being held at Heritage Park after moving from the campus of Otterbein College. The move was a result of Otterbein and its need to use the campus on the weekend. The number of students at the college during the summer was growing and the college needed to use their facilities more often.

Artists who want to exhibit at the Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce Music & Arts Festival must submit slides of original work and be selected by a jury to attend. Judges on the jury include award-winners from the previous year’s Festival and local artists from Westerville, Dublin, Worthington, New Albany, Gahanna and surrounding Central Ohio areas.

Along with the arts and crafts sections, the Chamber’s Music & Arts Festival features a Heritage area where Colonial and American crafts are demonstrated and exhibited. The Heritage craftspeople dress in period costumes and demonstrate their crafts which in the past have included: blacksmithing/iron work, pine needle craft, knitting, cane carving, basket-making, enamel painting, woodworking, soap and broom-making, wool spinning, stencil painting, toy and doll-making and leatherwork.

A Youth Art Exhibit is also available for young artists, ages 3-18 to display their arts and crafts talents in various categories. Youth art is available for purchase depending on the artist’s preference.

In addition to the exhibitors, the Festival features live family entertainment and youth performances throughout the weekend. Past performances have included everything from local Creole funk bands like Arnett Howard and Friends to acoustic guitarists like Neil Jacobs. Story-tellers, magicians, and jugglers are also available for family entertainment.

Typically, ten to twelve concessionaires are available on the grounds so that visitors can enjoy everything from snow cones provided by the Westerville Fire Department to Cold Stone Creamery ice cream, and even the famous Old Bag of Nails fish and chips.

In the past, visitors have commented on the Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce Music & Arts Festival by saying, “there is something for the whole family to do. There is great food and a diverse selection of quality arts and crafts to enjoy.”  And, it's all right here in Westerville, Ohio!