HIDDENITE CELEBRATION WEEK '03 IS ROUSING SUCCESS

Date: September 27, 2003
Time: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Place: Streets of Hiddenite, NC
An entire week of activities peaked with a day of Celebrating on Saturday, September 27. The festivities began at 10:00 am and concluded around 5:00 pm.
Read more details about the 2003 Hiddenite Celebration below.

HIDDENITE CELEBRATION WEEK '03 IS ROUSING SUCCESS

The Hiddenite Center's twenty-second annual Hiddenite Celebration of the ARTS is now history, and what a rousing success the entire event was! Thousands of people turned out to enjoy the preliminary events and the annual day-long street festival which was a huge success. The weather on Saturday was a beautiful sun shiny day! As the day progressed, it even became a little warm for this special day of fun and celebration. The entire community enjoyed the annual event and spent quality time with their friends and family.

This year's Celebration kicked-off with the annual Square Dance hosted by the Emerald Squares at the Center's Educational Complex on Saturday evening, September 20.

On Tuesday morning, September 23 the Celebration moved into high gear with the Senior Adult Day and Family Night. The duo of Charlie Story and John Hoekstra thrilled the audience with music from the past. One of the highlights was the kazoo playing which the group did to accompany Charlie and John. A filling lunch delighted the wonderful group of folks attending the Senior Adult Luncheon. There was fun, games, and lots of time to visit with friends. Charlie and John moved then to the Hiddenite Elementary School for a program of music for the students, faculty, and staff of the school.

Thursday evening brought to the Hiddenite Center an evening of bar-be-que and fun. A special treat for the evening will be the unveiling of the Center's corn maze. The corn maze is an agri-art project which has been produced with the assistance of Alexander Central High School's Agricultural Education and Art Departments. FFA students also assisted with this special project. Bryant Holsenbeck of Durham served as an artist in residence for the installation of this project. Tim Rufty of Rufty Brothers Farms in Stony Point served as a technical assistance, planting, and land lease. Goldshua Xiong, a 2003 graduate of Alexander Central, designed the maze portion of the project. This project was funded through the North Carolina Arts Council's Art in Education Grant process.

This year's climatic day was blessed with beautiful weather, and more than ninety artists and craftspersons brought their wares for an enthusiastic and eager audience. More than a dozen food vendors satisfied the hunger pains of the unusually large crowd in attendance at this year's event. Some forty folk demonstrations and four full stages of entertainment made the day one to remember! The day was strong - beginning to end! This year's attendance was outstanding. "We strive to do quality programming to serve our public, and the Center's staff is extremely pleased with the overall quality and thrust of the program," remarked dwaine coley. "With a wonderful staff who plans every detail, the day was picture perfect. We must say thank you to the host of folks who freely give of their time and energy to make the day possible - those who hosted in the museum, manned the doors, tended the welcome booth, provided music and stories on the stages, served cold drinks, provided for the needs of others, and labored (and I mean labored) to set up and clean up. Thank you, volunteers!"

"I must tip my hat to the Center's staff, Karen Walker, Allison Houchins, Linda Sherrill, and our support staff and volunteers of Jackie Deal, Elmeta Adams, Connie Millsaps, Rickey Mitchell, Brenna Houchins, Nancy Coley, Dale Clary, Scott Mitchell, Steven Price, Mark Odom, and Nathan Glad who labored long and hard especially with set-up and clean up to make Celebration happen. Thanks to our founder Eileen Lackey Sharpe for her words and deeds of encouragement and kindness, and for assisting with exhibitions! A host of volunteers and cooperative community folks guarantee the success of this annual venture," commented the Center's Executive Director. "Without groups like the Emerald Squares, good community residents who graciously cooperate with the activities, and a wonderful host of volunteers, this annual event would not be possible. The Center is deeply grateful to all who participate and work to make things happen."

The participation of numerous artists and craftspersons made the day most enjoyable for the entire region. Special presentations of North Carolina heritage arts made the day unique and special. Visitors from surrounding areas particularly commented on the unique nature of these special exhibitors and artists.

"The Hiddenite Celebration of the ARTS is put away for another year, but the planning and evaluation have begun for next year's festivities. Next year will celebrate the Center's twenty-third anniversary, so plans are already underway. Several new ideas are under consideration for expanding the day's events, changing the hours, etc. The Center welcomes input from participants and visitors," concluded the Center's Executive Director.

The Hiddenite Celebration of the ARTS was made possible in part through the generous funding of the Alexander County government, North Carolina Arts Council's General Support and Grassroots grants, the R. Y. and Eileen Lackey Sharpe Family Foundation, the Western Arts Agencies of North Carolina, and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Center is most appreciative of the businesses and individuals who support the Celebration through the annual tabloid. These funds bear some of the Center's expenses for the set up and staging of the festival. Also special thanks to Pepsi of Statesville, Sipe's Lumber, and Mountain View Farms.