Fine Arts Fiesta celebrates 70th anniversary with special events – Wilkes-Barre Citizens’ Voice

Celebrating 70 years and “70 Trips Around the Square,” the Fine Arts Fiesta, a nonprofit organization, will again provide its annual free gift to the community in Wilkes-Barre’s Public Square from May 14-17, with additional special events throughout the city highlighting this special anniversary.

The Fine Arts Fiesta begins the week after Mother’s Day, and 12 area artists whohappen to be mothers will be part of a special exhibit which will be open daily duringFiesta from noon to 6 p.m. across the street from the Fiesta at the Fine ArtsFiesta headquarters at 58-60 Public Square.

In celebration of the Fine Arts Fiesta’s 70th anniversary, the Sordoni Art Gallery will host “Inspired Bites: A Pop-Up Lunch Series” from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Monday, May 11, at Wilkes University’s Sordoni Art Gallery, 141 South Main St., Wilkes-Barre.

Volunteers from the Fine Arts Fiesta will be on hand to share their enthusiasm for thisyear’s “70th trip around the Square.”  A free lunch is sponsored by Rosenn, Jenkins, and Greenwald, while supplies last.

Fiesta isn’t confined to Public Square – as part of Fiesta’s “Around the Town” series, there will also be an exhibit of artists’ works in the lobby of the Genetti Best WesternHotel.Featured at this year’s 70th Anniversary Fiesta will be art exhibits and presentations, including the Adult and Student Juried Exhibits, the Wyoming Valley Art League Circle Center members exhibit, and exhibits by Zenchaser Bonsai as well as by Verve Vertu Art Studio.

There will also be four Artists in Residence who will demonstrate their art of mixed media painting, wheel-throwing ceramics, and African drumming.

Back by popular demand this year will be the unique Art History Walk, in which guests can be photographed interacting with famous artwork. The Art Walk is presented by the Fine Arts Fiesta and COLOURS Inc.

There will be plenty of fun for children and families, including:

Mother Goose, Flossy the Fiesta Clown and Lara Bertin the Fiesta Mime will be strolling through the crowds to entertain youngsters.

Regular performances will be put on by the Tucker Tales Puppet Theater.

The Luzerne Foundation, Fine Arts Fiesta, and Sordoni Art Gallery will sponsor amake-and-take tent of art activities for children up to age 12.

Just Plain Crazy will provide free face painting thanks to sponsorship by The Maslow Family Arts Fund for all children up to age 12.

For your browsing and buying pleasure, this year’s Yellow Zinnia Artists’ Market will feature 43 artists and craftpeople all exhibiting one-of-a-kind items for purchase.

And of course, another highlight is the Fiesta Food Court with 14 food vendors, each with a different item to satisfy any and all appetites.

The 70th Anniversary Fine Arts Fiesta is presented by a 19-member volunteer board and the tireless work of over 250 volunteers.

Funding for the Fine Arts Fiesta comes from over 300 individual donations, corporations, foundations, businesses, and board fundraising events. To help ensure that Fiesta provides its free gift to the community for another 70 years, donations can be made securely at www.fineartsfiesta.org.