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The Fourth Saturday of September each and every year for the past 31 years, the streets of the quaint town of Hiddenite explode with folks enjoying the Hiddenite Celebration of the Arts!

2012 - 31st Annual
HIDDENITE CELEBRATION of the ARTS

Alexander County Board of Commissioners
Proclaim “Hiddenite Center Celebration of the ARTS Week”
September 16th – September 22nd

In a proclamation that was approved by the Alexander County Board of Commissioners on September 10, 2012, this week has officially been declared “Hiddenite Center Celebration of the ARTS Week” in Alexander County. In this unanimous show of support, the Alexander County Board of Commissioners expressed their appreciation for the work of the Hiddenite Center during their 31 years of service to the region.

The proclamation reads as follows:

WHEREAS, For 31 consecutive years, The Hiddenite Center has served as a beacon for art education, the preservation of folkways and heritage traditions, and a center for exhibitions and performances that make art and culture accessible and affordable for the people of Alexander County and the Western North Carolina region; and

WHEREAS, The Hiddenite Center’s Annual Celebration of the ARTS will feature a week of events that include live performances in music, dance, and storytelling; and

WHEREAS, The 31st Annual Hiddenite Center Celebration of the ARTS festival, held on the fourth Saturday of September, showcases a diverse group of regional artists and crafts vendors, provides hands on demonstrations of folkways and cultural arts traditions, features four performance stages for music and dance, and is attended by more than 10,000 people annually; and

WHEREAS, Alexander County Government is proud to support the arts in our community and wishes to commend The Hiddenite Center’s Staff and Board of Directors for their continued dedication to excellence in service to the people of Alexander and surrounding counties; and

WHEREAS, The Hiddenite Center and their Annual Celebration of the ARTS festival have had a tremendous impact in educating and inspiring generations of North Carolinians and are a treasure to Alexander County,

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Alexander County Board of Commissioners declares Sunday, September 16, 2012 through Saturday, September 22, 2012 “Hiddenite Center Celebration of the ARTS Week.”

“We are extremely grateful for the generous support of the Alexander County Government both in issuing this proclamation on our behalf and through providing vital funding that makes Celebration and so many other programs possible” said Hiddenite Center Interim Director, Karen Walker. “The Hiddenite Center continues to be a vibrant, growing arts organization due in large part to our many dedicated volunteers, friends, and community partners.”

The Hiddenite Center’s 31ST Annual Celebration of the ARTS festival will be held on Saturday, September 22nd from 9am – 4pm on Hiddenite Church Road. Celebration offers a one of a kind festival experience that puts art directly in the hands of visitors through demonstrations in pottery, butter churning, weaving, and other folk pavilion activities. Celebration of the ARTS also features four live performance stages, over 50 art and crafts vendors, food, children’s activities, and more. The festival is FREE to attend!

“Celebration is truly a gathering of the best that North Carolina has to offer in visual art, crafts, heritage, and performance arts,” Walker went on to say. “We encourage everyone to attend and Celebrate the ARTS with us on Saturday.”

Hiddenite Center Celebration of the ARTS events are made possible in part through the generous funding of Alexander County government, the Eileen and R. Y. Sharpe Family Foundation, Friends of the Hiddenite Center, Carris Reels, the Unifour Foundation, the Duke Energy Foundation, and the North Carolina Arts Council's Grassroots Funds (which are funded by the North Carolina Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.)

For more information about Hiddenite Center events and programs, please call the Lucas Mansion at (828) 632-6966 or visit www.hiddenitecenter.com Join the Hiddenite Center on facebook by searching Friends of the Hiddenite Center.

Enjoy all-day Entertainment from four stage areas.

• Storytelling, clogging, dance theatre, quartets, gospel music, steel drum band & more!

Learn about our past in the Folklife Pavilion.

• Demonstrations of folk life and folk art forms are presented throughout the day.

Watch your children's faces light up.

• Face painting, clowns, balloon sculpting, games & prizes, moon walk and more.

Enjoy food and snacks from a variety of vendors.

• Greek specialties, fresh squeezed lemonade, funnel cakes, pit cooked chicken...yum, yum.

Browse through the arts & crafts vendors.

• This is a great time to pick up some unique Christmas gifts!

Attention Crafters
You are invited to take part in the next Hiddenite Celebration. We will be glad to provide you with information on having your own booth at the Celebration.
Phone: 828-632-6966
Email:info@hiddenitecenter.com