Blackberry Arts & Crafts Festival
From our weekly issue dated August 6, 2008
Blackberry goodies (as last year, above) will be available in front of Treehouse Florist & Gifts to benefit Life Lines prison ministry. (IVN file)
Illinois Valley once again will celebrate all things blackberry during the coming weekend: Friday, Aug. 8 through Sunday, Aug. 10.
Festivities in Cave Junction will begin with Second Friday Art Walk from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday -- and continue with the 27th annual Illinois Valley Wild Blackberry Arts & Crafts Festival on Saturday and Sunday.
The Art Walk Featured Artist for August is Karen Stiles, who will exhibit her watercolors at Changes Art Gallery in Downtown CJ.
Taylor’s Country Store will host the Southern Oregon Blues Band. Kevin McFarland’s contemporary pop art will be displayed there.
Second Friday Art Walk offers exhibits at 16 locations during August.
At Illinois Valley Visitor Center, Bob Burt will demonstrate the art of marquetry, and Daryl Ponder will display his latest metal wall art. The ever-jovial Kirk Taylor will play and sing famous folk songs on the visitor center deck between 5 and 7 p.m. Other musical highlights during Art Walk will include Vinnie Ripp & Statement, a funk fusion duo, at Bagel Junction hosted by Peace of Mind Wellness Center.
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Blackberry treats will be available at Bagel Junction, next door at Produce Plus, and at Nacho Mama’s down the street. George & Anwyn Leverett will play their own handmade Celtic harps at Home Valley Bank from 4 to 6 p.m.
Festival Events On Tap
Artists, crafters and concessionaire booths will line the street to vend their wares each day during the Wild Blackberry Festival.
Street fair hours will be 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, and 9 to 4 on Sunday. On both days, the Josephine County Bldg. will be a hub of activity.
The Cave Junction Lions Club will serve breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m., and Western Star OES will serve lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the county building.
And there will be bingo from noon to 4 p.m. featuring 25-cent cards, also in the county building.
The festival theme is Wild Blackberry Pickin’ because the entertainment lineup at the Wild Blackberry Festival will feature Country and Bluegrass musicians from Southwestern Oregon and Northern California.
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Saturday’s musicians will include the Goldman Family performing between 2 and 5 p.m. on Redwood Hwy., and Dan Daniels playing dulcimer, banjo and guitar while singing and telling stories throughout the day.
There will be free family activities at Jubilee Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday including a petting zoo and kids craft-and-Nature activities organized by 14 different nonprofit groups.
Beginning at 5:30 p.m. Dandelion Jo will perform at the open air stage in the park, followed by T.J. & The Spurs, a Country-Rock dance band, until 10 p.m.
On Sunday, musical prodigy Taylor Rose will play two sets between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on the main street of Cave Junction. While in Jubilee Park, Mollie’s Re-enactment Players will perform at 11 a.m., followed by the Senior Line Dancers from I.V. Senior Center at noon.
Second Friday Art Walk is sponsored by the Illinois River Valley Arts Council. Go to www.irvac.com or phone 592-4444 for further information.
To view nearly 100 photos taken during the 2007 Blackberry Festival visit www.wildblackberry.org,
And for even more festival information phone 592-6509 or email Info@wildblackberry.org.
