Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival To Brighten Downtown Norwich This Weekend
Published: September 8th, 2023
By: Kelli Miller

The 29th annual Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival will take place Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in East and West Parks, transforming downtown Norwich into an exciting and interactive show of arts, crafts, entertainment, activities, and food.(2022 photos by Tyler Murphy and Morgan Golliver))

NORWICH — The 29th annual Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival will take place rain or shine on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in East and West Parks, transforming downtown Norwich into an exciting and interactive show of arts, crafts, entertainment, activities, and food.

Colorscape Chenango said the Festival will start at 10 a.m. Saturday with Mustard’s Retreat, followed by an award presentation, including the 2023 Volunteer of the Year and the Colors Cape recipient for 2023 at 10:45 a.m.

The Colorscape Board of Directors has selected Tresta Smith as the 2023 Volunteer of the Year. This award was established in 2012 in memory of Susan Connelly, Colorscape’s first Volunteer Coordinator, who organized the festival’s volunteers from 1999 to 2011.

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Festival Executive Director Celeste Friend said, “For several years, Tresta Smith has handled every aspect of our Kids' Art Zone. Under her leadership, it runs like a well-oiled machine, and kids and families always have a wonderful time and bring home a piece of art they made themselves.”

Mike Natoli of MPI Label Systems is being honored as the ColorsCape recipient for 2023. It will be awarded during Opening Ceremonies on Saturday, Sept. 9th, in East Park on the NBT Main Stage. MPI Label Systems (and former company, Label Gallery) has partnered with Colorscape Chenango since the festival's inception 29 years ago.

The board particularly noted MPIs in-kind support in printing - entirely free of charge - postcards, bumper stickers, and labels of all sorts. They said their generosity continues to this day, and they are thankful.

The highlight of the two day free festival is the art. Colorscape features 107 artists displaying and selling their creations. The show is known as “the best show in the region” with many professional artists traveling from all over the northeast to participate.

Friend said there are over 100 juried artists in a mix of 13 different categories, which include but are not exclusive to: ceramics, wearable fiber, jewelry, glass, mixed media, wood, photography, painting, and more.

East and West Park exhibitors’ names and booth numbers can be found on maps located at Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival Facebook page.

Literary Arts will be on the Guernsey Memorial Library lawn with a book signing and Haiku workshop; also used books will be on sale from 9 a.m to 4 p.m.

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Art zone activities will be provided and as always, arts and crafts activities are free.

Kid's Art Zone:

Children pre-school through age 9 can participate in exciting art projects to include felt pinecone ornaments, pop-up paper hats to color, and round wood decorative ornaments.

Golden Art Zone:

Children age 10 and up and adults can create two projects: make a tie dye bandanna or paint a t-shirt. Sponsored by Golden Artist Colors.

According to the Colorscape web site Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival draws 10-12,000 people to East and West Parks in downtown Norwich each year and is held rain or shine. In case of rain, umbrellas will be for sale in the Merchandise Booth.

Souvenirs, T-shirts, hats, jackets, vests, autographed CD's and umbrellas can be purchased after each show.

Plenty of mouth watering food can be found at the Chobani Culinary Court and include The Mason Jar, The Chick Magnet, Lulu's Kettlecorn, Cowboy BBQ, R&T Enterprises, Birdsong Cafe, Traveler's Kitchen, Phat Back's LLC, Uncle Stevie's Corn, and UHS.

According to the Colorscape Chenango Arts website, they are grateful for the volunteers that are the driving force behind Colorscape’s success. Only a few paid contractors are involved and the rest of the energy, enthusiasm, and commitment is from many volunteers during the two days of Colorscape. From running the Art Market to delivering lunches to over 100 artists; volunteers contribute their time even year to make Colorscape possible.

The Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival is made possible with public funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and administered by The Earlville Opera House.

NBT Main Stage is sponsored by NBT Bank and grants from the Follett and Greater Norwich Foundations and Decentralization.

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Chobani Culinary food Court sponsored by Norwich Minty’s Candies and Treats.

For more information visit website www.colorscape.org.

Entertainment during the festival will be on varying stages throughout Saturday and Sunday and include the following line up:

NBT Main Stage

Saturday, Sept. 9

10:00 a.m. - Mustard’s Retreat

10:45 a.m. - Opening Ceremony

11:00 a.m. - Poet Shanelle Gabriel

11:30 a.m. - The Kennedys

12:30 p.m. - The Christine Spero Group