On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, I headed to the market having completely forgotten that the Arts Festival was happening. Imagine my surprise when I drove up toward Brockport and found Main Street in the village was blocked off. I wandered in and stopped amazed at what lay before me; a seemingly endless sea of people in either direction, filling Main Street with a beautiful cacophony of happy voices, bird song, and a lovely late summer breeze.
I wandered from stand to stand, listening as those around me asked questions, bartered deals, made purchases, and had happy conversations with equally happy vendors. I wandered from booth to booth, struck by the number of tents that lined the village. This year’s festival boasted a wide variety of wares, from beautiful ornate woodworking and works of art, to the food trucks selling delicious and unique cuisine alongside our own Rochester staples.
I did not engage in conversation with any of the individual merchants to discover their history, where they came from, or how they ended up attending our 2024 Brockport Arts Festival. However, I can say that the turnout this year seems slightly bigger than last year. While there were vendors galore, it was the people that made my heart swell with community pride. There were so many different people, happy during their outing – smiling people, smiling babies, and even a few smiling dogs.
If you missed it this year, keep an eye out. You never know what you’re going to find at an arts festival.
Kelly Jo Stone
Hamlin
