Celebration of the Arts Saturday

The Huntingdon County Arts Council’s free open house, the Celebration of the Arts, returns on Saturday, June 13, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The event features music, art and craft activities, art demonstrations, an art exhibit, and food. According to Executive Director John Kearns, “The Celebration of the Arts is our annual open house to proudly showcase the Huntingdon County Arts Center to the community and offers a number of free activities and music for the whole family to enjoy.”

The entertainment portion of the event brings together local performers, artists, and community members for a full afternoon of entertainment at the arts center. This year’s musical lineup includes dancers from the Huntingdon Dance Academy, plus the music of J.T. Thompson, the Centre Bassoon Consort, and Celestial Sounds Choir

Barbara Sanchez, Program Coordinator, said: “The Huntingdon community is in for a unique musical treat with The Centre Bassoon Consort, a regional chamber music group based in central Pennsylvania.” Historically, the term “consort” refers to a group of musicians playing instruments from the same family. A bassoon consort consists of an ensemble of bassoons (and occasionally contrabassoons) playing chamber music or complex arrangements of early music.

The Celestial Sounds Choir, from the Center County area, is under the direction of Laurel Sanders and is a large, 30-voice choir that will raise their voices in a unique selection of songs for the public to enjoy. This is the first time that the Celestial Sounds Choir has performed in Huntingdon County.

Attendees can also take part in hands-on workshops featuring flower pounding, basic quilling, rock painting, and more, or watch skilled artists at work through live art demonstrations. A local Girl Scout troop will be on hand with family activities for younger attendees. Plus, a face painter will be on hand for young and old alike.

Attendees will also have a chance to view the current art exhibit, Living Out Loud.

The Huntingdon Humane Society will also be present, hosting a bake sale to support their work in the community, and there will be a yard sale in the parking lot.

Standing Stone UMC will offer food in the social hall, while EZ Concessions will be on-site with funnel cakes, fried Oreos, and fresh lemonade.

In addition, the Art Center’s Art Shoppe will be open, featuring works by local artists that are for sale.

The Celebration of the Arts is a family-friendly event and is located at the Huntingdon County Arts Center, 313 12th Street, Huntingdon, in the former 12th Street Methodist Church, at the corner of 12th and Mifflin Streets. Admission is free.