Vendor tents line Genesee Street in Greene at last year’s Arts & Craft Festival. This year on Saturday, July 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. more than 100 vendors will fill the village for the 49th annual event. (Submitted photo).

GREENE – Event organizers say this year's Arts & Crafts Festival will be the largest the village has ever hosted, as a committee from the Greene Lions Club brings the event back for its 49th year.

More than 100 vendors have registered to line the streets of Greene with unique goods on Saturday July 25, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., marking a significant expansion for one of Chenango County's longest running summer traditions. The festival typically draws around 2,000 local and out of town visitors each year according to event organizers.

“This is the largest festival we've ever put on,” said Jessup Dumond chair of the Lions Club committee that oversees the Arts & Crafts Festival's planning.

With more than 100 vendors visitors can expect to see a wide variety of booths, including but not limited to jewelry, home décor, art, sculpture, handmade clothing and accessories, flowers, wood carvings, baked goods, knives, pottery and ceramics, and more. “We've seen all sorts of crazy things,” said Dumond.

While the Festival was originally founded by the Greene Chamber of Commerce all of those years ago, the Lions Club assumed responsibility in 2017 and has grown it each year since. Despite the change in leadership the festival organizers have maintained the event's focus on showcasing handmade goods.

“Basically, our policy is it's got to be homegrown or handmade,” said Dumond, noting that Greene has a longstanding tradition of supporting local artisans selling homegrown or handmade products within the village. Vendors now travel from across the state and other regions to bring their unique products for sale at the annual Arts & Crafts Festival.

“There are several vendors from Greene, and they have come from as far away as Scranton Pennsylvania, Albany, Syracuse, and Oneonta Area, that come down,” said committee member Bruce Myers.

The over 100 vendors will set up between the sidewalk and roadway along Genesee Street and Chenango Street, stretching to the Mirabito gas station near route 12. Streets will remain open to traffic, a choice organizers hope encourages passersby to stop and explore. Parking will be available on Genesee Street, and in nearby municipal lots. The festival is said to draw nearly 2,000 visitors to the village each year.

In an effort to support Greene's restaurants, the organizers have not invited outside food trucks or vendors this year. Instead, local eateries will offer specials for the day. Myers noted that the village has several restaurants and lunch spots. A full list of restaurants can be found on the festival's Facebook page where you'll find at least 10 different offerings, not including the farm stands and small shops. He mentioned several lunch spots to try in the village and even a deli that sometimes has hamburger eating contests.“So there's lots of things to do with food if they want to,” Myers said.

Live music will be performed from the porch of the Sherwood Hotel, a landmark in the village, with performances from the Renaissance Jazz Band, and Bourbon and Branch. The music will be broadcast along the festival route.

Community involvement remains strong, with local churches, residents, and visitors embracing the festival's growth according to Myers.

“Most of the feedback we get has been very positive,” said Myers, “All the churches in the community help us and participate in our craft fair. Their patrons, come out and support it, they all participate.”

The vendor fees also go back to the community in a productive way. The fees directly support the Greene Lions Club's Little League baseball program and park maintenance. Standard vendors spots cost $50 and $35 for verified local nonprofits. Dumond said the Greene Lions Club Little League program had 91 kids participate this spring, making up several teams. Lions Park itself includes three baseball fields, a large recreational space, along with a pavilion, which requires regular maintenance.

“This has become one of our fundraising efforts to support Lions Park,” said Dumond, “and specifically the Little League program.”

To find more information about the Greene Lions Club visit their website at https://www.e-clubhouse.org/sites/greeneny/index.php

Details about the 49th annual Arts & Crafts Festival are available on Facebook by searching “Annual Greene, NY Arts and Crafts Festival” or go to this link https://www.facebook.com/GREENELIONSCLUB

To register as a vendor send an email to greenelionsclub@gmail.com