Fine Arts Fiesta begins setting up to celebrate 70 years

The annual Fine Arts Fiesta will be held May 14-17 on Wilkes-Barre Public Square, celebrating 70 years and “70 Trips Around the Square,” with additional special events throughout the city highlighting this special anniversary.

Crews could be seen Thursday setting up tents and preparing for the multi-day event on Public Square.

The Fine Arts Fiesta begins the week after Mother’s Day, and 12 area artists who happen to be mothers will be part of a special exhibit which will be open daily during Fiesta from noon until 6 p.m., just across the street from the Fiesta at the Fine Arts Fiesta 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 this year’s “70th trip around the Square.” Free lunch is sponsored by Rosenn, Jenkins & Greenwald, while supplies last.

Additionally, 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 Western Hotel.

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 and 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 is the unique Art History Walk, where guests can be photographed interacting with famous artworks. 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 stroll 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 a make-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.

This year’s Yellow Zinnia Artists’ Market will feature 43 artists and craftspeople all exhibiting one-of-a-kind items for purchase, while the Fiesta Food Court will have 14 food vendors.

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.