Connecting The Community Through Art

Heart Of Lancaster Show Planned For Labor Day Weekend

"Our show is geared for the community, and we always make sure that it's free," explained Marilyn Hobday, founder of Heart of Lancaster Arts and Craft Show. As an artist and retired educator, Hobday is passionate, to say the least, about making sure that the arts continue to thrive in Lancaster and that everyone has a part in them.

"We try very hard to focus on local artists, although we do have artists that come from all along the East Coast," said Hobday.

The 32nd annual Heart of Lancaster Arts and Craft Show is set to take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, at Root's Country Market, 705 Graystone Road, Manheim. Admission and parking are both free, and the outdoor show will take place rain or shine. Live music will be performed by jazz band Over Easy on both days, and food and beverages will be available to purchase.

The show will feature the work of 200 juried artists, including 50 newcomers. "Customers are excited about coming every year because they like both: seeing some of the same people and seeing some new artists, too," said Hobday. "All of the people that are coming are working very hard at their art. I like to see small businesses like that thrive."

"We have a lot more 2-D art this year, which is nice. It's not quite 50-50, but we're getting there," Hobday noted. "The most important thing is the diversity of merchandise that is coming." She is also proud to have a show that offers customers artwork at a variety of price points. "I think the customers love this show because it's affordable," remarked Hobday.

Another one of the show's trademarks is live demonstrations, and Hobday said that 50 artists will be demonstrating their crafts for visitors this year. Balloon sculptures, metalwork, and henna tattoos are just a few of the processes that visitors will be able to get a glimpse of.

This year's featured artists are Laura Mark Finberg of Pequea, a nationally known wildlife painter; Andrew Loercher of Lancaster, who creates handmade redware pottery; and Tim Mateer of Mount Joy, an international wildlife photographer. Each of the artists will be highlighted in the free magazine available to patrons at the information booth, where people may also enter to win drawings for gift cards to use at the show. Winners will be announced every hour.

Each show applicant must submit a detailed report on how his or her products are made in order to make sure that the show's selection is an honest representation of handmade arts and crafts. "We're really good to our exhibitors. We cater to them because everyone who serves on the (show's) committee has to be a working artist," said Hobday, who serves as chairperson of the show's planning committee, which also includes Loercher, Bunny Switzenburg, Susan Quinn, Melissa Ward Carroll, and Jessica Keener.

"We always try to shine light on a local charity, and this year it will be The Common Wheel," stated Hobday. Based in downtown Lancaster, The Common Wheel offers an after-school Earn-a-Bike program that provides students ages 12 to 17 with the opportunity to fix up and keep a bicycle that they can call their own and receive training in bicycle assembly, maintenance, and safety. According to https://thecommonwheel.com, the organization also gifted bicycles to 375 children through its Holiday Bike Drive. Its Bikes For All program, which supplies low income individuals with reliable transportation via a bicycle, has had 58 beneficiaries. A donation box will be set up at the Heart of Lancaster for those interested in donating to The Common Wheel.

For more information about the Heart of Lancaster Arts and Craft Show, readers may visit http://www.hlcshow.com.