Annual Arts & Drafts Festival marks Norton Shores’ 40th year celebrating art

By Victor Skinner
NORTON SHORES – The Norton Shores Arts & Drafts Festival is coming to Ross Park August 20, marking the 40th year the city has hosted an annual art fair.

The free event in Ross Park will feature more than 100 vendors for the “Arts & Crafts” fair, an “Arts & Wheels” car show to benefit the local Kids Food Basket, and an “Arts & Dash” 5K, as well as a beverage and music area, and a children’s play area that’s “bigger and better” than ever, Parks and Recreation Program Coordinator Sue Vredevoogd said.

The city revamped the decades old fair four years ago to attract a wider range of the community – incorporating kids activities, car shows, live entertainment and other attractions – and the changes are now driving the event’s growing popularity, she said.

“It used to be we only had people shopping at the craft fair, but now there’s something for everybody and we’ve had great attendance the last three years,” Vredevoogd said. “I think our attendance has been up every year, especially in the music area, as it’s become known we’re there.”

For 2016, Muskegon’s 100.9 FM signed on as the official sponsor the community gathering, working with organizers to get the word out. Two of the three bands scheduled to play also received corporate sponsorships to reduce the cost on the city, Vredevoogd said.

Oniger, a five-piece rock band playing from 4 to 7 p.m., is sponsored by Huntington Bank, while Novotny Electronics sponsored the variety classic rock band Yard Sale Underwear, which closes the event from 8 to 11 p.m. The group Global Village, which boasts a three-piece horn section, kicks off the music area from noon to 3 p.m.

Vredevoogd noted that all three bands are from West Michigan, which fits well with the city’s aim to create fellowship among area residents, she said.

“As you grow as a community and you have more people moving in … it’s just a nice thing for people to come in and meet friends, to build community among Norton Shores residents and the West Michigan community,” Vredevoogd said.

The community focus is why most of the events are designed around giving back, with proceeds from the $15 and $25 entry fees for the “Arts & Dash” 5K Run going toward local youth running clubs, and the $10 registration fees for the “Arts & Wheels” show for the Kids Food Basket.

Vredevoogd said the Norton Shores Branch of the Muskegon Area District Library is hosting the children’s area, which features inflatables, games, crafts and other surprises throughout the day.
“They have really terrific plans for children’s activities,” she said.

The annual arts fair is expected to feature about 110 vendors, many from West Michigan, with a wide variety of wares, from oil paintings, to photographs, to woodwork, clothes, clay art, jewelry and other unique creations.

“Events like the Arts and Drafts Festival are the reason we love our community,” Muskegon’s 100.9 FM’s Matt Hendricks said. “A fantastic local event that’s totally family friendly and offers a full day of fun for everyone! A 5K, car show, fun for the kids, awesome art, lots of fantastic beverages and live music – doesn’t get much better!

“This is what summertime on the lakeshore is all about, and all of us at Muskegon’s 100.9FM are thrilled to be the media sponsor for 2016,” he said.

Vredevoogd said the new partnership has helped a lot to spread the word, especially among locals.
“They’re a great local radio station and they play a lot of the same music (as the Arts & Drafts bands), so they touch the crowd we’re looking for,” she said.

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