MOUNT VERNON — Morning rains caused the craft and trades vendors some delay in getting set up, but most were up and operating by noon as festival-goers started making their way downtown.
Steve Stott, left, of Beat Percussion of Mount Vernon has Kaden Pealer of Fredericktown tapping out a rhythm on one of his frame drums at the Dan Emmett Music & Arts Festival on Thursday. (Photo by Chuck Martin)
By ,
Mount Vernon News
August 10, 2012 12:12 pm EDT
The Dan Emmett Music & Arts Festival Craft and Trades Show is on South Main Street and features a variety of hand-made crafts as well as booths featuring products and information from local businesses and organizations.
Some are newcomers, like Steven Stott and his wife, Meagan, owners of Beat Percussion.
He’s been building drums and other percussion instruments for a couple years, he said, and this is his first time at the festival.
“I’m a graduate of the Naz (Mount Vernon Nazarene University), but I was never here during the summer so I wasn’t aware of the festival,” he said.
Stott builds unusual drums out of wood. They are different sizes and shapes, which produce different sounds. He also has a type of wooden xylophone and bead-covered African gourd shakers known as shekere.
He does all the woodwork, Meagan said, she helps with the finishing.
In contrast, Harry Armour of Pittsburgh said he’s been coming to the festival “for so many years I don’t know how long I’ve been coming.”
His booth is oriented to kids, making sand art in bottles. He also can do water in the art, which few sand art producers do.
“I usually do well here. It’s a four-day show and I’ll usually cover my expenses the first day,” he said. Many shows are only a day or two long.
Sweet Baby K’s is another craft booth oriented to children. Barbara Stimpert of Bladensburg makes head bands, hair bows and other decorative accessories for girls.
“They last longer than much of what you can buy at the big stores,” she said. “My daughter is my tester and if she can’t break it, I’ll sell it.”
She has been making her crafts for about five years. This is her third year at the festival.
For the rest of the story
The rest of this article is available to Mount Vernon News subscribers. To continue reading, please log in or purchase a subscription. Click here for the August 10, 2012 e-edition. The article will only be available for thirty (30) days.
Contact Chuck Martin
EmailRules: Please keep your comments smart and civil. Don’t attack other commenters personally and keep your language decent.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.