Archive for the Category ◊ Arts & Crafts ◊

ALAN at 2013 LAKEFEST

Friday, July 17^th stop by the corner of 4^th & Virginia Avenue, where Sand sculptor, Alan Matsumoto, has already begun his larger-than-life creation, I wonder what it will be this year? Alan, has held a Guinness World Record in sand-sculpting, and has won 6 World Championship titles with his Sand-sculpting Team-mates. He has also been a Canadian National Snow-sculpting Champion and twice B.C. Provincial Champion. After a 19 year career as a Structural Engineer in Vancouver, Canada, Alan has been sand-sculpting professionally now for over 20 years and currently lives in Roanoke, Virginia.

The town will be busy preparing for the night’s activities as the main stage will be rolling in as well as a few selected vendors & Fun Time Amusements of Danville will be setting up all their machines for the all the children’s games & rides. Around 6:30 pm everything should be set & placed into action. At 7 pm, we the night’s MC, Bill Baker will take stage and announce and bring our wonderful, sponsors to the stage! We couldn’t do it without them!!! Make sure you thank a sponsor if you see one!!

ADMIRAL

• HP

CAPTAINS

• McDonalds of Clarksville
• Clarksville Ruritans
• VETS, Inc.

COMMANDERS

• Benchmark Community Bank
• Lake Motel Efficiencies & Magnuson on the Lake
• SENTARA
• Signs & Designs
• The Mecklenburg Sun
• The News Progress
• US98.3

OFFICERS

• VCU/CMH
• Town of Clarksville
• Century 21 on the Lake
• Simmon’s & Associates Realty

1^st MATES

• A & K Dock Service
• Unburn
• Clarksville Marina
• Carter Bank & Trust
• Citizens Community Bank
• Edward Jones
• Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative

Helmsmen

• CFJ-Jewelry, Gifts & More
• Clarksville Auto Supply, Inc.
• Matthews Sanitation
• Southside Marine
• Virginia Avenue Mall

As soon as we are finished with taking the sponsor photo, the live entertainment for the evening takes stage….from Richmond Virginia, InsideOut. We will be selling lakefest t-shirts by the Clarksville Ruritans Thrift Shop, and also raffle tickets for the Totally Cool Raffle, which the winner will be drawn at 9:45 that evening.

The arts & crafts show is juried and the jury has been kept busy reviewing applications and photographs since early in February. Artists this year are coming from not only Virginia, but also other states– Florida, Ohio, North and South Carolina, Alabama, Maine, Pennsylvania & Georgia. The crafters have been extremely active in applying for this year’s show. Lots of new & exciting booths this year….art from Water ink, acrylic and oil paintings, pottery, leather products, birdhouses and garden accessories, carvers and sculptures, personalized jewelry, items to be personalized on the spot, blown glass jewelry, photography, clothing, home accessories and even pet attire–just to name a few.

What are some of the food vendors on tap for this year…how about something heathy at LAKEFEST? Well, we have a new vendor this year coming from Midlothian…..Hemp Dog Café® their products are a healthy take on classic foods. It is gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, and GMO free!

Of course we have all the other festival favorites such as gyros, chic on a stick, Thai food, pizza, whole pig BBQ, crab cakes, seafood and hot dogs & hamburgers too! Fried green tomatoes, alligator fries, blooming onions, kettle corn, & more.

And for those with a sweet tooth, we have all sorts of flavored Funnel cakes and an Insane DONUT vendor, deep fried peaches, candy bars, & Oreos. For that hot summer day you can choose from these tasty treats to cool you down, Ice cream, smoothies, sno-cones, popsicles’, milkshakes or yogurt & so much more.

Want to see keep up with all active details & more of who is coming to LAKEFEST, go to our LAKEFEST EVENT page on Facebook to view our daily post on updates and information.

Each year we send out secret judges to rate & award 4 crafters for Best in Show with 1st place , 2nd , 3rd & honorable mention & those three judges go their own way & span 7 blocks to hunt for their favorite display. They rate them for attractiveness of their booth, quality, beauty and difficulty of craft and friendliness of crafter. Below you’ll find this year’s winners.

Gamaliel’s Wood Carvings won first in show awards him with $150, He is from Franklinton, NC

Linda Patrick Studios, artwork of watercolors of rural VA, awarded $75, is from Lyndhurst VA

The Reinvented Home, awarded $50 to Darlene Kelly with her Repurposed furniture & accessories, from Beaufort, SC

Colonial Wagon & Wheel, Metal Lawn & garden art, awarded Dave Anders Honorable mention of $25 and is from Lancaster, Ohio

Here comes the 37th Annual Lakefest! This year is looking to be a wonderful time of celebration here in Virginia’s only Lakeside Town. Below you’ll find detailed information on some of this year’s happenings; from Helicopter Rides to The Antique Auto Show, and a 5K Run/walk-hosted by the Clarksville YMCA. For registration details and to sign up to participate in the 5K Run call 434-374-5858 or download the application here. Please use the links below and to the left to explore just some of this year’s offerings.

photo by Justin Eubank

• Juried Arts & Crafts Show
• Bringing the LOVE to Lakefest
• Antique Auto Show
• Games & Rides
• Sand Sculpture Artist
• Helicopter Rides
• Free Kids Balloon Rides
• Musical Guests ~ Friday and Saturday
• T-Shirts
• Outdoor Summer Fun LAKEFEST Raffle
• Shuttle & Parking Information
• 2014 Lakefest Schedule
• Top Twenty Event

One of the events major attractions to Lakefest each year is the Sand Sculpture. We wait for almost three whole days to figure out what great work of art will be carved out of that huge pile of sand. The attraction located in the Pocket Park, located at the corner of 4th & Virginia Avenue, near the LOVE sign.  Back this year is Ed Moore who was here in 2012 and has been the main sand artist for Lakefest for many years. Ed is  the Founder of Sandy Feat sand sculpture group, grew up to be an architect. But he never gave up on his childhood pastime, which resulted in ever more complex creations, from elaborate castles built on beach vacations to the scores of sculptures he has cut into blocks of wet sand since founding the professional sand-sculpting team Sandy Feat 24 years ago

He has a Bachelor’s degree in architecture, is a N.C. State University Residence, lives in  Raleigh with his wife, Sally Moore. The Moore  family has a long history at N.C. State, where he, his father and one of his sons all earned degrees. Moore says his father would often recall a tradition there from the 1920s called “Rush the Grand,” in which groups of students would take the trolley downtown to the Grand Theater. (Later called the Ambassador Theater, it has since been razed.) A large enough group would overwhelm the attendants, allowing the students to get in free.

Clarksville Lake Country Chamber of Commerce in southern Mecklenburg County, Virginia is set to host the LOVE artwork sign at the 37th Annual Virginia Lake Festival otherwise known as LAKEFEST!

Visitors are encouraged to take a family picture in front of the artwork and share it on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/VirginiaisforLovers or on Twitter, using the special hashtag ‪#‎LOVEVA ‪#‎LAKEFESTVA.

The Virginia Tourism Corporation will bring an oversized LOVE artwork to Clarksville on July 17th as part of a state and local partnership to promote tourism. The artwork, which is 16 feet long and more than six feet high, is part of the Virginia is for Lovers campaign and promotes the message that love is at the heart of every Virginia vacation. Visitors can come see the LOVE when it arrives July 17th and will be on display at the pocket park on the corner of 4th & Virginia Avenue, near the sand sculpture, through July 20th.

“Our iconic Virginia is for Lovers brand is about love – pure and simple, and has been for more than 40 years,” said Rita McClenny, president and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation. “We are excited to share the LOVE at locations throughout the Commonwealth where so many people can enjoy being a part of it. It reminds us that Virginia is an ideal destination for families looking to completely connect on a Virginia vacation.”

“We are thrilled to add this new highlight to the festival this year! Everyone who has been to LAKEFEST, LOVE’s it! There is so much to see and do, from the hot air balloon show, to 5k run, antique car show, amusement rides for the kids, to great entertainment, 150 arts & craft vendors, food galore & Fireworks! We want to invite everyone to our free event! Having the LOVE sign will be something new & fun and we also see it and an opportunity to promote tourism to our area.” said Sheila Cuykendall, executive director of the Clarksville Chamber of Commerce.

Tourism is an instant revenue generator for Virginia. In 2010, tourism generated $19 billion in revenue, supported 204,000 jobs and generated $1.3 billion in state and local taxes.

Love is at the heart of every Virginia vacation. Visit www.Virginia.org to learn more or call 1-800-VISITVA to request a free, Virginia is for Lovers travel guide.

Photo provided by Virginia Tourism Corporation (Virginia.org)

The arts & crafts show is juried and the jury has been kept busy reviewing applications and photographs since early in February. Artists this year are coming from not only Virginia, but also other states– Florida, Ohio, North and South Carolina, Alabama, Maryland, Georgia. The crafters have been extremely active in applying for this year’s show. Water ink, acrylic and oil paintings…even face painters, pottery, leather products, birdhouses and garden accessories, carvers and sculptures, personalized jewelry, items to be personalized on the spot, blown glass jewelry, photography, clothing, home accessories and even pet attire–just to name a few.

What are some of the food vendors on tap for this year? As of this moment, we have more than 20 food vendors…only two of similar offerings are approved by the jury…thus, there will be an extraordinary amount of variety. In addition to the typical festival foods such as polish sausages, gyros, alligator fries,  blooming onions, kettle corn, coated nuts, deep-fried candy bars, cheesecake/cookies and funnel cakes with your choice of toppings…the ethnic choices will include Caribbean–jerk chicken, shawarma, hummus; vegetarian offerings, Seafood–shrimp, crab cakes, fish tacos; Thai choices–Satay, vegetable cakes and spring rolls; Items to cool one down on a hot summer day…fresh squeezed lemonade, smoothies and icees, drinks such as homemade sodas & milkshakes, snow cones, homemade ice creams and old fashioned floats & yogurt!

Could your wallet use an extra $250? Consider putting your talents to work for the 2014 Virginia Lake Festival (Lakefest) and become the winner of the reward. The Clarksville Lake Country Chamber of Commerce encourages area artists to enter the winning logo design for the 37th Lakefest that is scheduled for July 17-29, 2014.

In addition to the cash reward, the winning artist will have their design featured on the official 2014 Lakefest t-shirts and on brochures, flyers and other media promotions of the three-day event, plus be promoted in area newspapers for their accomplishment.

Those wanting to enter the contest may download an entry form here, pick up an entry form at the Clarksville Chamber of Commerce, 105 Second Street, or pick one up at the Virginia Avenue Mall or call the Chamber and one will be mailed to you. For artwork designs to be considered in the judging, original and signed entries must be delivered to the Clarksville Chamber Office or submitted by mail to the Lake Festival Committee, P.O. Box 1017, Clarksville, VA, 23927, no later than March 14th, 2014. For more information call the Clarksville Lake Country Chamber of Commerce at (434) 374-2436 or contact us.

The Clarksville Lake Country Chamber of Commerce would like to congratulate all of this year’s entries into the Arts & Crafts Show for their hard work and excellence in artistry. This year’s winners are especially to be celebrated in standing out amidst so much talent. Thank you!

1st Place

A Living Art Topiary
Rebecca Willis of Mooresburg, Tn
Animal shaped forms made from moss & plants

2nd Place

The Mad Hatter’s Follies
Marilyn Perkey, Burlington, NC
Upcycled Décor made from Dishes & Bric & Brac

3rd Place

Natures Legacy
Sandie Smith, Ruther Glen, VA
Wildlife photography taken around the world

Honorable Mention

McKinsey Bamber Jewelry
Mckinsey Bamber, Richmond VA
Sterling silver jewelry with brass, copper & precious stones

  The arts & crafts show is juried and the jury has been kept busy reviewing applications and photographs since early in February. Artists this year are coming from not only Virginia, but also other states–Florida, Ohio, North and South Carolina, Alabama, Maryland, Georgia. The crafters have been extremely active in applying for this year’s show. Water ink, acrylic and oil paintings…even face painters, pottery, leather products, birdhouses and garden accessories, carvers and sculptures, personalized jewelry, items to be personalized on the spot, blown glass jewelry, photography, clothing, home accessories and even pet attire–just to name a few.

What are some of the food vendors on tap for this year? As of this moment, we have more than 20 food vendors…only two of similar offerings are approved by the jury…thus, there will be an extraordinary amount of variety. In addition to the typical festival foods such as polish sausages, gyros, blooming onions, kettle corn, coated nuts, deep-fried candy bars/cookies and funnel cakes with your choice of toppings…the ethnic choices will include Caribbean–jerk chicken, shawarma, hummas; vegetarian offerings, Seafood–shrimp, crab cakes, fish tacos; Thai choices–Satay, vegetable cakes and spring rolls; Items to cool one down on a hot summer day…fresh squeezed lemonade, smoothies and icees, frozen drinks such as Pina Colodas and Bahama Mamas, snowcones, homemade ice creams and old fashioned floats & yogurt…Sweet Frog!

You are invited to enjoy the nearly 200 vendors that will be in place on Virginia Avenue on Saturday, July 20, 9 am-5 pm. The street will be closed to traffic from 4 am until midnight. (Pictured are products from: Amazing Dresses, stuffed toys from jellykoe & jewelry from Liz Mitchell Designs)