Southport Magazine

What: Oak Island Art Guild Arts and Crafts Festival
When: Saturday, August 30th
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Middleton Park Extension
46th SE Street and Dolphin Drive
Cost: FREE
Info: www.oakislandartguild.org

For the 25th consecutive year, the Oak Island Art Guild will bring its annual Arts and Crafts Festival on Saturday, August 30th. If it is art and homemade crafts that tickle your fancy, you’ll enjoy appreciating local and visiting artists and craftsmen of all kinds.

The Oak Island Art Guild is comprised of artists who meet monthly to share their interest in art by participating in workshops and community involvement programs. A few of their efforts include: scholarships to South Brunswick High School seniors with the desire of attaining a degree in the visual arts, and grants to local art teachers so they may purchase classroom art supplies. The group depends on the vendor fees from this festival fundraiser every year to support these humanitarian efforts in the community.

There will be a variety of arts and crafts for everyone to enjoy. Penny Prettyman, treasurer of the Oak Island Art Guild, shared  the categories with us: fine and costume  jewelry, woodworking, wearable and other fabric-made items, metal works, pottery, basketry, stained glass, photography, paintings, country crafts, and so much  more.

Approximately 140 vendors will be returning for the festival to share their talents with our local community. Several already registered hail from Brunswick and New Hanover counties, while others will be traveling from South Carolina, Ohio, Florida, Virginia, Tennessee, and other parts of the country.

While browsing, shopping and feeling the fresh salty breeze from the ocean, guests of the festival may get a little hungry. Never fear—there will be plenty of food vendors located throughout the festival grounds as well. Prettyman spouts off some delicious Southern pleasers: “hotdogs, hamburgers, chicken on a stick, funnel cake and fried pies, jarred cakes and pies, flavored honey, boiled peanuts, candied apples, ice cream, ice cream floats, slushies, Italian ice, kettle corn and more!”

As of press, the festival was still open to artists and craftsmen who are interested in sharing their products with the community; vendor space is sold until all of the spots are filled. Those interested can download an application from the Oak Island Art Guild website, www.oakislandartguild.org/arts-crafts-festival.php.

For the artist or art lover in everyone, the Oak Island Art Guild invites you to join them in celebrating their silver anniversary with arts, crafts, food and fun on August 30th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Middleton Park Extension. Guest attendance supports the vendors, who support our burgeoning young artists of Brunswick County. “The group has a mission to further the cultural arts for the residents of Oak Island and the surrounding communities,” Prettyman reminds.