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Gypsy Wind

Vintage market delights holiday shoppers

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Those looking to do their holiday shopping while enjoying the fresh country air, all while supporting local artisans and businesses, were in luck.

Three-year-old Kaiden Hay, of New Tampa, left, and his 4-year-old sister, Kaiya, pose behind a wooden cutout depicting Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. The children were at the Country Christmas & Vintage Market event with their parents, Eugene and Kara, and grandparents, Scott and Jennifer Cook, of Dade City. (Christine Holtzman)

The Country Christmas & Vintage Market, a family friendly event, was held at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City.

Dozens of vendors were on hand for the Dec. 5 event, selling various vintage items and antiques, as well as handcrafted goods. Items for sale included Christmas decorations, quilts, toys, jewelry, clothing and crafts.

A children’s area was set up inside the Mabel Jordan Barn, where many activities and craft stations were being offered. Games and crafts in this area included Ring Toss the Bulls, Snowball Throw, Santa Limbo, Ornament Bowling, Pin the Nose on the Reindeer, and make-your-own Christmas ornament.

Four-year-old Alice Scarborough, of Dade City, plays a ring toss game inside the Mabel Jordan Barn at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village in Dade City. The young girl, along with her mother, Morgan, and, 1-year-old brother Raylen, stopped by the barn to play games and to take part in the children’s crafts being offered during the Country Christmas & Vintage Market on Dec. 5.

Live entertainment was provided by Gypsy Wind, a Pinellas County-based acoustic band, that played a blend of jazz, swing and acoustic music.

In addition to the main building, visitors could explore the many historic buildings on the grounds, like the Trilby Depot, the Old Lacoochee School, the John Overstreet House and the C.C. Smith General Store. Each building, and the surrounding grounds, were expertly decorated by the Dade City Garden Club in its annual effort to help beautify the grounds during the holiday season.

According to the club’s Facebook page, all circles of the club contribute to the project by donating the materials needed to create the historically authentic decorations. The Facebook page also noted that members of the Echebucsassa Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution joined the garden club in decorating the Overstreet House.

Visitors touring the buildings were encouraged to vote for the best decorated building for a chance to win a family membership to the museum.

A cutest Elf contest, blacksmith demonstrations, and complimentary holiday photos rounded out the event.

Admission to the event was $5, and free for children under 5.

Wearing his Santa hat, 2-year-old Elikai Wingo, of Zephyrhills, has a seat on the steps of the Old Lacoochee School while visiting the Country Christmas & Vintage Market at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village in Dade City, on Dec. 5. His mother, Samantha, said that he asked Santa Claus for a hamster this Christmas.
Ten-year-old Jillian Sereno, of Dade City, left, and her siblings, 7-year-old Elizabeth and 6-year-old Grady, enjoy a silly moment while sitting in front of the 1913 Porter Steam Engine that is on display outside of the Trilby Depot. The children were at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village on Dec. 5 enjoying the Country Christmas & Vintage Market event with their father, James.
Joel Prater, of Dade City, sits with his smiling 2-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, as she tickles the ivories on a vintage piano inside the Blanton Packing House building at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village in Dade City. Prater, who was born and raised in Dade City, said that his daughter enjoys playing with a toy piano at home and this is her first time playing a real one.
Gypsy Wind, a Pinellas County-based acoustic band, entertains the crowd with their new take on an old blend of jazz, swing, bluegrass and folk music.

Suncoast Arts Fest getting ready for really, really big show

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Fine Arts of the Suncoast Inc., is getting ready for this 13th annual Suncoast Arts Fest — featuring 110 artists from across the country and Canada.

Photographer Thomas Styczynski is from Santa Barbara, California. (Courtesy of Jennifer Douglas, Suncoast Arts Fest festival manager)

The event, held at The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel, is scheduled for Jan. 20 and Jan. 21.

When the weather is good, the two-day event has drawn up to 80,000 visitors, said Jennifer Douglas, the festival manager.

She noted that “the quality of the art continues to grow, along with the reputation of the festival.”

The festival manager added that she’s “particularly proud of the live entertainment we’ve lined up for the Mainstage.

“I think our visitors will be blown away by the talent and diversity featured this year,” Douglas said.

Beyond a wide array of art to see and purchase, the free public event also offers live entertainment, chalk art murals, kids’ art projects and other highlights.

Mr. Harley will be providing an interactive show for children during the Suncoast Arts Fest, being held this weekend at The Shops at Wiregrass. He is slated to perform on Jan. 21.

Artists must compete for a place in the show, and this year there were 166 applicants vying for a spot. Categories at the show include ceramics/clay, digital, drawing, fiber, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture and wood.

The juried arts competition will award $14,000 in cash prizes.

Live entertainment will be featured on the Mainstage at Center Court, located at the festival midpoint across from Macy’s.

The festival will kick off on Jan. 20 with performances by The Richey Suncoast Kid’s Theatre and The Wesley Chapel Wind Ensemble.

At noon, Gypsy Wind, will share its unique blend of bluegrass, folk and old jazz favorites. Other performers in the afternoon will include The Frankie Raye Trio, and at 3:40 p.m., headliners Violectric, with its passionate fusion of classical string instruments and cutting-edge technology and effects.

Glass artist Rollin Karg is from Kechi, Kansas.

As the current Artists-in-Residence at Orlando’s Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Violectric has opened for Sting, Adam Levine, Ne-Yo, David Foster, Kristen Chenoweth, Katherine McPhee, Sia, Twenty-One Pilots, Rascal Flatts, and Huey Lewis and the News.

On Jan. 21, Suncoast Arts Fest radio sponsor, WGHR Hits 106, will be broadcasting live with performances on the Mainstage by children’s musician, Mr. Harley; followed by classical world guitarist Nikola Baltic, and Pasco favorites Barefoot Bob and the Hope. Tampa blues legend Sarasota Slim will close out the festival.

The event also has plenty of activities for kids.

The Kids’ Art Garden, presented by Suncoast Credit Union, has free Picasso-themed art projects, face painting and a scavenger hunt.

The Art Makerspace, sponsored by Chasco Middle School, will demonstrate its mobile 3D printer, and the festival’s Emerging Artist Exhibit will be back, featuring the talent of Pasco County elementary, middle and high school students.

This drawing is by artist Marie Rust, of Bitely, Michigan.

Other highlights will include chalk artists and strolling entertainment by the Bay Area Renaissance Festival.

Suncoast Arts Fest is produced by Fine Arts of the Suncoast Inc., a charitable organization dedicated to developing a community culture that embraces the arts.

All proceeds from the Suncoast Arts Fest benefit “Arts for Education,” a grant fund created by the festival’s parent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Fine Arts of the Suncoast Inc. This mini-grant program provides project support to supplement arts education funding in public, private and charter schools in Pasco County.

In 2017, more than $6,000 in mini-grants was awarded, bringing the grand total distributed to nearly $100,000 since the organization’s inception.

Suncoast Arts Fest
Where: The Shops at Wiregrass
When: Jan. 20, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Jan. 21, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Cost: Free admission and parking
Details: A juried show featuring works by 110 fine arts and crafts artists from across the nation and Canada. The event also features live entertainment and children’s activities.
Info: SuncoastArtsFest.com

Published January 17, 2018