by Maggie Fitzgibbon
for Brockport Arts Festival
The Brockport Arts Festival has grown to be known as one of the best-attended events in the region that offers quality artists, delicious food, and entertaining performers. This community tradition offers something for everyone. The Brockport Arts Festival will be held on August 10 and 11 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on both days in downtown Brockport.
Kathy Kristansen, Brockport Arts Festival Co-Chair, noted the 2023 festival attendance.
“We believe that last year was one of our highest-attended festivals. Our best estimate is that about 40,000 people visited. The weather was great and, overall, it was one of our best festivals,” she said.
This year’s festival will feature a broad range of artists – ceramics, drawing, painting, home and lawn décor, clothing and accessories, photography, jewelry, furniture, and more. Over 150 artists will offer their very best work.
New to the Brockport Arts Festival is the Student Alley, which features high school and college-age artists. These student artists will have their booths interspersed throughout the festival and their booths will be marked as student artists. Kathy Kristansen explained why the Steering Committee introduced this new addition to the Brockport Arts Festival.
“It’s our goal to allow young artists to gain exposure by showcasing their work. We hope this encourages them to enter the festival as a juried artist when they are eligible,” Kristansen said.
Asia Howland is a talented jewelry artist who is new to the Brockport Arts Festival. She is a Student Alley participant whose booth is called Junky Jewelry. Her creations are made from allergy-sensitive materials and are unusual because she uses all recycled materials – pop-can tops, glass, melted wax, old phones, and more. Asia explained her passion for creating jewelry.
“Since I was young, I’ve always created things for myself. My friends and family have encouraged me to sell my work at a festival so I’m excited to come to the Brockport Arts Festival. Even my booth design is created from repurposed and reutilized materials,” she said.
Area retailers and direct sales representatives will be found in the Brockport Arts Festival Marketplace, located in front of Our Village Optician. Game Players Unlimited and a 31-foot LuLaRoe bus are just a few of these retailers/representatives.
Interested in learning about area non-profits? The Boy Scouts, Brockport Food Shelf, Paws Animal Shelter, Navy Club, Lifetime Assistance, Oak Orchard Community Health Center, and other exhibitors will gain exposure and share information about services offered and volunteer opportunities. Other businesses such as the K9 Resorts Luxury Pet Hotel, located on West Ridge Road in Greece, Dream Vacation Planner, and LeafFilter Gutter Protection Systems will also be available.
Shuttles provided by Spurr Chevrolet Buick, GMC will run to the festival area from the Sweden Plaza on Lake Road, located just south of Route 31. Shuttles will run each day from 9:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., but will not run during the Arts Festival After Hours Concert on Saturday.
The Main Street Canal Bridge that connects the village of Brockport to the north side of the village remains closed for repairs. Use the detours for access or park your vehicle at Sweden Plaza and use the shuttle vehicles.
The BAF Steering Committee has a friendly reminder for attendees. Festival-goers are encouraged to leave beloved pets at home because festivals are crowded and the pavement is hot. Show them you love them by picking them up a handmade pet product from one of the many pet-related vendors.
A complete listing of artists, vendors, exhibitors, and entertainment is included in this Brockport Arts
Festival special section of Westside News.
A fare competition
by Maggie Fitzgibbon
for Brockport Arts Festival
A new competition called the Food Truck Face-Off, sponsored by Renewal by Anderson, pits Brockport Arts Festival food trucks against each other as they present their very best cuisine to a panel of judges.
As any festival goer will tell you, the popularity of festival food trucks has grown immensely over the last decade. Why? The lower cost to operate than a brick-and-mortar restaurant, the ability to serve local food favorites, and easy accessibility are just a few reasons. The Brockport Arts Festival Steering Committee agrees.
“We thought this new competition would be a great way to highlight the food trucks just like we highlight our artists,” said Kathy Kristansen, Brockport Arts Festival Co-Chair and Steering Committee member.
Armed with forks, knives, and napkins, the Brockport Arts Festival Steering Committee members will judge the signature dishes. All of the food vendors have been invited to participate and include:
•Macarollin
•Eat Greek
•Jimmy Z
•KO-BQ Korean Fusion Grill
•Curbside Quesadilla
•Mary’s Foods
•Nancy’s Fried Dough
•Apt. 1 Donuts
•Colletti Gardens
•Outback Kettle Korn
•Island Wraps
•Kiwanis Club of Brockport
The official Food Truck Face-Off competitors will be announced on the Brockport Arts Festival Facebook page before the Food Truck Face-Off begins. The competition participants include:
•Eat Greek
•Macarollin
•Mary’s Food Truck
•Island Wraps
•KO-BQ (Korean food)
•Brockport Kiwanis
•Curbside Quesadilla
•Jimmy Z
The judging will begin on Saturday, August 10, at 10:30 a.m. The winner will receive the first-ever Gold Plate award and $100 off their booth purchase for the 2025 Brockport Arts Festival.
Other food trucks and food stands at Brockport Arts Festival include Outback Kettle Korn, Colletti Garden, Nancy’s Fried Dough, James Hunts Donuts, Falanga Gourmet Cotton Candy, and 25 other specialty food vendors.
Stop out to the Brockport Arts Festival and visit and judge your favorite food truck fare.
Provided photo
Sip and savor New York wines at the Brockport Arts Festival Wine Garden
by Maggie Fitzgibbon
for Brockport Arts Festival
Are you interested in learning about specific types of wine, wine regions, tasting techniques, or something else wine-related? Visit the Wine Garden at the Brockport Arts Festival to learn more about local and regional wines.
The Brockport Arts Festival Wine Garden will be open on Saturday, August 10, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Sunday, August 11, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The Wine Garden will be located on the lawn of the Morgan Manning House. Admission is $5 per person, which includes tastings from each winery. Proof of age must be provided. Anyone age 21 or younger will not be admitted.
Six area and regional wineries will be part of the Wine Garden – Lakeland Winery, Victorianbourg Wine Estate, Thousand Island Winery, Hunt Country Winery/Brightly’s Farm Market, Weis Vineyards, and Caribbean Hibiscus Winery.
Festivals can be a place for local and regional wineries to gain exposure and attract new customers. Cheryl Warner, a long-time Lions Club member and Wine Garden Committee member, explained how the Wine Garden provides opportunities for attendees to purchase wines directly from the wineries.
“Some of these wineries do not have their products available in area liquor stores so the Wine Garden is a great place to make a purchase and try a wine that you haven’t tasted before,” Warner said. “The Caribbean Hibiscus Winery is new to the Wine Garden this year and offers gluten-free and alcohol-free wines.”
The proceeds from the Wine Garden support BISCO projects. BISCO is the Brockport Integrated Service Clubs Organization, which funds projects that benefit children from the western towns of Monroe County. Some past BISCO projects include the Skate Park at Sweden Town Park; a new handicap-friendly swing set for Corbett Park; playground equipment for Barry Street and Corbett Parks; an eight-passenger cycle, trailer, and storage shed for Camp Abilities and much more.
Warner noted how the Wine Garden is a great fundraiser that supports BISCO projects.
“The Wine Garden is well-attended and the proceeds are a great way to give back to the community. Bring a friend, chat with friends, and have a taste from some great wineries,” she said.
For more information about BISCO, visit http://biscobrockport.org.
Brockport Arts Festival features many talented musical artists
by Maggie Fitzgibbon
for Brockport Arts Festival
Arts festivals often feature an eclectic mix of musical genres, from classical and jazz to folk, indie, and electronic music. This diversity caters to different tastes and introduces attendees to new styles. This year’s Brockport Arts Festival features a wide variety of live performances throughout the festival weekend.
The Brockport Arts Festival After Hours concert makes a return this year on Saturday, August 10, from 4:30 to 10 p.m. North 43 takes the stage again this year. This area band is known for covering a broad selection of music, including classic rock, blues, and covers of The Grateful Dead, The Rolling Stones, and more. Black Robin Band, a three-piece band that plays rock, pop, and blues music from the 50s until today, will also perform.
The Arts Festival After Hours concert stage is on Main Street at the intersection of Clinton Street and is called the Canalside Stage.
Kari Pardun, Brockport Arts Festival Steering Committee member and Festival Organizer shared details about the 2023 Arts Festival After Hours concert.
“Last year’s concert was well-attended. We think the word-of-mouth has helped this event to grow. It’s a great addition to the festival,” Pardun said.
The Steering Committee encourages folks who attend the Arts Festival After Hours concert to patronize local businesses for food and drink.
As a reminder, lawn chairs are allowed at the Arts Festival After Hours concert; however, coolers are not.
Throughout the Brockport Arts Festival weekend, two stages – the Canalside stage and another stage on the lawn of the Morgan Manning House – will feature entertainment.
The New Originals, Aaron Ziolkowski and Gypsyland are a few of the musical acts scheduled to perform.
The New Originals is a five-piece band that covers a range of musical genres, including pop, country, and rock music spanning the 50s to today. This group of talented educators define themselves as making music fun. Mark Hughes, the New Originals spokesperson, described the band.
“Our music can be described as roots rock; we play familiar music but we are not the typical cover band. We are always looking for new opportunities to play so we are excited to play at the Brockport Arts Festival,” he said.
Gypsyland
Aaron Ziolkowski makes his first appearance at the Brockport Arts Festival. He is sure to entertain listeners both young and old with his variety of American music. This multi-talented instrumentalist dazzles his audiences with his electric and acoustic guitars, mandolin, and vocals. Gypsyland is an oldies, rock, blues band. This five-member band is also known to play some of its original music.
Other musical acts scheduled are noted below:
Morgan Manning House stage
•Zumba with Body By Summer
•Summer Dance Camp Performance
by Brockport School of Dance
and Performing Arts
•Road Less Travelled
•Patti Stirk
•She Sings
Canalside stage
•Allen Hopkins
•Dave Knaudt
•Joey Stempien Big Band
This year’s Kids’ Zone will feature Balloon Animals by Mike Cole; and family movement and meditation by the Soulshine Healing Arts Wellness Center. The Balloon Guy, a skilled balloon modeler, is a talented and fun performer who keeps kids entertained with his twisted innovations. Soulshine Healing Arts is a Brockport-based studio that provides a menu of services, including pediatric mental wellness services, energy medicine reiki, grief and loss support, yoga, healthy and natural alternatives, and much more.
The Kids’ Zone will also feature:
Saturday
•Brockport Clarkson Learning Center
•Family Movement and Meditation
by Soulshine
•Silly Faces Face Painting
•Balloon Animals by Mike Cole
Sunday
•Ready! Set! Grow!
•Family Movement and Meditation
by Soulshine
•Silly Faces Face Painting
•Magic by Patrick Holman
•Balloon Animals by Mike Cole
A complete listing of entertainers and performance times can be found in this Brockport Arts Festival special section along with a map of the festival areas.
Provided photos
The Duck Derby is a quacking good time
by Maggie Fitzgibbon
for Brockport Arts Festival
The Duck Derby, a popular Brockport Arts Festival competition, is the capstone to the Brockport Arts Festival and draws thousands who cheer on the ducks to see which one will cross the finish line first. The Duck Derby race is set for Sunday, August 11, at 4 p.m., when thousands of yellow ducks will be set afloat in the Erie Canal. The Duck Derby is sponsored by Brockport Smiles and RE/MAX Titanium is the event organizer. Proceeds from the Duck Derby benefit the works of Brockport Integrated Service Clubs Organization (BISCO).
Interested in joining the fun and taking a chance by purchasing a duck? The cost for one single duck ticket is $5, a pack of five duck tickets is $20, and a flock of 35 duck tickets is $100. Duck tickets can be purchased at the yellow Duck Derby tent throughout the festival weekend; however, duck sales will end on Sunday at 3 p.m.
Cindy Ingraham is a Duck Derby volunteer and a RE/MAX Titanium real estate agent. She noted, “BISCO members will also help to sell duck tickets for the event. If anyone is interested in joining BISCO, we are always looking for new members.”
Preparation for the Duck Derby begins weeks before the event. Ingraham explained how a local Boy Scout Troop members get the ducks ready for the race.
“For many years, Boy Scout Troup 111 has helped to count and sort the ducks. They also make sure each duck is in peak floating condition,” Ingraham said. “We couldn’t do this without them.”
Since the Main Street Bridge is closed for repairs, the race route will be different. The ducks are set to launch near the Main Street bridge. Ingraham explained the race route. “The ducks will float down the canal to cross the finish line at the Park Avenue bridge,” she said. “The DEC has graciously volunteered to launch the ducks again for us since the Main Street bridge is still closed. They are bringing their boat and two officers to the event.”
Brockport Smiles is a major sponsor of the Duck Derby, which has resulted in generous prizes.
“To date, we have cash prizes totaling over $3,000. It’s a win-win for the lucky duck ticket holders who also love supporting a good cause,” Ingraham said
Ingraham encourages people to buy a duck ticket or two and come watch this fun race.
“Lots of people gather to watch the show and cheer on the ducks. The canal path is lined with ticket holders and supporters who like to see how fast the ducks reach the finish line,” she said.
Sponsors play a vital role in the success of the Brockport Arts Festival
by Maggie Fitzgibbon
for Brockport Arts Festival
Sponsors play a crucial role in supporting community events, often providing financial resources, goods, or services that enable the event to be successful. This rings true for the Brockport Arts Festival.
Many local businesses are providing support to the Brockport Arts Festival – all in different ways.
Spurr Chevrolet, GMC, is providing monetary sponsorship to help offset the costs of festival logistics. Spurr will also use its dealer vehicles to shuttle festival-goers from the Sweden Plaza on Lake Road (located just south of Route 31) to the festival grounds and back. A unique service will be available to festival-goers – Spurr vehicles will be charging stations if anyone should need to charge a mobile device.
Kari Pardun, Brockport Arts Festival Steering Committee member and Festival Organizer, explained why sponsors are important to the success of the festival.
“It is important that local businesses sponsor the Brockport Arts Festival (BAF) for multiple reasons. Firstly, the BAF is all about community. When an organization joins the event as a sponsor, they are showing that community building and relationships with the Brockport community is a priority for their business,” she said.
Canandaigua National Bank (CNB) and AP Bond Benefits are also providing monetary sponsorships. Volunteer t-shirts are also sponsored by CNB, and AP Bond Benefits is providing support for event seating. Renewal by Anderson is sponsoring the first-ever Food Truck Face-Off and Long Construction is sponsoring the Food Court. Casella Waste Systems is providing refuse disposal.
Runnings, a second-year Brockport Arts Festival sponsor, is contributing bottled water for volunteers and vendors, high visibility vests for volunteers, and duct tape to aid in festival set-up.
Notera Foods is sponsoring the Hospitality Tent. Formerly known as Bonduelle, Notera is a canned and frozen vegetable and fruit processing company. This national company has a facility in Brockport.
Family-owned, Oaks, Inc., is sponsoring the vendor booth plates (signs).
“Creating a vibrant local economy benefits all of us. BAF sponsors can opt to lend financial support or to also have a presence to promote their business at the festival. With an estimated 30,000 attendees each year, that equates to significant concentrated exposure and contact with future clients and customers,” Pardun said.
Volunteers needed for the Brockport Arts Festival
by Maggie Fitzgibbon
for Brockport Arts Festival
Volunteers are the lifeblood of any non-profit organization or event. The Brockport Arts Festival (BAF) needs volunteers for many event logistics and tasks. The BAF Steering Committee estimates that almost 100 volunteers are needed.
Kathy Kristansen, Brockport Arts Festival Co-Chair, described some of the ways that people could help.
“We need help before, during, and after the festival. On Wednesday through Friday before the festival, we need help with the festival set-up – stages, marking curbs and streets for the vendors and artists, and other organizing tasks. During the festival, we need welcoming and hospitality volunteers and stage assistants. On Sunday after the festival ends at 5 p.m., the festival grounds need to be dismantled, and the streets need to be cleared for traffic,” she said.
Brockport Arts Festival Steering Committee member and Festival Organizer Kari Pardun added, “Volunteering at the festival is a great way for any student to earn service hours. You could work one shift or help throughout the weekend,” she said.
The Girl Scouts have committed to volunteering as water runners – bringing water to the vendors and artists. The Boy Scouts will be responsible for keeping the festival area clean and removing trash.
The Steering Committee asks that volunteers be ages 14 and older. Families are encouraged, however, no small children.
Are you interested in signing up or learning more about how you can volunteer? Scan the QR code included in this article.
Brockport Arts Festival supports community initiatives
by Maggie Fitzgibbon
for Brockport Arts Festival
For almost three decades, the proceeds from the Brockport Arts Festival have funded a wealth of community projects, initiatives, and events. This tradition continues and is now dedicated to renovating parks in the Village of Brockport.
The 2023 Brockport Arts Festival proceeds sponsored a multitude of events scheduled throughout 2023 and 2024 in the village of Brockport. The goal of these events was to attract people to the village to patronize local businesses.
“The closure and reconstruction of the Main Street Canal bridge resulted in a great reduction of traffic through the village. Unfortunately, this has impacted our businesses. We brainstormed ideas and planned a year chocked full of events from Dinner on Main to farmers’ markets to concerts to holiday events to draw people to the village,” said Kathy Kristansen, Brockport Arts Festival Co-Chair.
The proceeds from the 2022 BISCO/Re-Max Titanium Duck Derby have been used to create a sensory playground at Sagawa Park, located in the heart of the village of Brockport. A sensory path, created by Laurie Torrence, a physical education teacher at Ginther Elementary School, leads to new activities. A tic-tac-toe game, a game library, a toddler-size bench, a checkerboard picnic table, and four musical flowers line the path. Each petal on each flower makes a distinctive musical sound once tapped by the connected mallet.
Kari Pardun, Brockport Arts Festival Steering Committee member and Festival Organizer noted how the festival proceeds are investment in the community.
“The proceeds generated by the festival are dedicated to the continuous development of Brockport’s village parks and playgrounds. Village parks are a staple of village life and an important amenity for residents of all ages and abilities,” she said. “Utilization of Village parks and playgrounds is correlated with positive health, mental health, and youth development outcomes.”
These new park installations are welcome additions to Sagawa Park and are well worth a trip to see.
Photos by Maggie Fitzgibbon
