Glenhyrst Art Gallery is preparing for the second annual Grand River Arts Festival, which will be taking place on September 20 and 21, 2024.
The second annual installment of this splendid event takes place at Glenhyrst Gardens in Brantford, a unique natural setting nestled beside the Grand River.
Right out of the gate, in September of 2023, this festival stood apart from ‘art markets’ and ‘music festivals’ in both location, content and positive energy. With an emphasis on originality, variety and quality; fine art vendors, musicians, theatre and performance artists, are carefully selected to represent an array of mediums and styles.
The event will kick off with performances from two unique bands on Friday, September 20. First up is Miss Mae, a locally-grown, dynamic, three-piece alt/garage band born from the Brantford Music scene who create interactive and ‘mosh-worthy spaces through their 70’s and indie rock inspired grooves.
Headliners, The Blackburn Brothers are a multi-award nominated Southern Ontario Blues band of fourth generation Canadians descended from freedom seekers through the Underground Railroad. The Blues that they create is part of their inheritance and always about a message of history, freedom, legacy, family, Black unity and love.
Intermission features a special performance by the Hamilton Acrobats. Also on Friday evening, last year’s 10-minute play competition winner, Trevor Copp will perform his prize-winning play on the Coach House Stage (extra pricing in effect). Friday evening’s event is licensed and the main ticket price includes admission to both bands plus one beverage (wine, beer or zero proof cocktail from Collective Arts Brewery) and a special keepsake glass. The atmosphere will once again be magical under the September sky!
Saturday is a free admission and all-ages from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. and features all day music by regional artists: Tabla, Mell & Grace, Killan Bamberg and Friends, Shebad, Sunjunkies, Tomi Swick, Chris Strei, Days on Parade and Lowdown Dirty Mojos. Sound brought to you by Pynx Productions.
Beneath 13 large festival tents there are 36 artists with works in metal, wood, fibre, paint, glass, ceramic, paper, print (the list goes on). In the Gardeners Cottage, Brantford Potters’ Guild will present pottery demonstrations alongside a sale of works by more than 20 artisans. All of our vendors offer exclusively original, handmade one-of-a-kind works.
In the Coach House on Saturday, the adjudication of this year’s 10-minute plays begins at noon. These plays were pre-selected, from numerous submissions, for quality and originality. Tickets for blocks of plays are available for a nominal cost at Grandriverartsfestival.ca.
Children’s entertainer Rumple and Friends was so popular last year that we brought him back for a bigger, longer performance, as well as, a children’s activity tent featuring Kindred Spirits, are offered on Saturday, as are interactive art pieces and the chance to contribute to a permanent art project by Dave Hind, Thingmaker. There are live art demonstrations, and several sessions of the Grand Impressionists live painting contest where artists are given a surprise piece from Glenhyrst’s permanent collection to inspire them to paint their own piece. These pieces are then displayed for silent auction and a People’s Choice winner which is awarded a prize on Saturday evening.
“We are also excited to welcome back Big Cityyy Arts with performance spots throughout the park,” said organizers of the event.
This event is rain or shine (but it wont rain!)
For a full schedule of participants and more details, please visit grandriverartsfestival.ca and follow grandriverartsfestival on Instagram and Facebook.
