Monday, April 28, 2008

Things I will miss about Toledo, Part III: Black Swamp Art Festival

Every September (usually the first weekend) there is a big art festival in Bowling Green. They block off part of Main Street and set up booths for artists down the middle of the road for about 2 blocks. Another entire block is devoted to art projects (mostly free) for kids. It is a lot of fun.

Unfortunately, because we are ill-prepared, we have yet to make it to the festival with our camera, although we've gone every year. So these pictures are all of the products our children have made, but not of the process itself.
They usually make some sort of large paper hat. These brown paper versions are especially nice to steal from the children when it is hot and sunny during the festival. I wore a feather- and glitter-bedecked version the entire day in 2006. And doesn't Olivia's expression in the top picture remind you of Matthew Lau? Those round-headed babies are sober kids, I guess.

This watercolor/coffee-filter version of the hat is from last year. Much more colorful, but not nearly as functional. Especially because you can't wear them while they are drying.
And these tribal masks are from last year too.

Besides craftiness, the Black Swamp festival also boasts a delicious kettle-corn stand with samples galore, a woman who is there every year selling clothes for those crazy front-yard geese (sorry, Ohio, but I just can't get on this trend), and a book sale at the Bowling Green library where the Wells family has picked up more treasures than our bookcases can hold over the past four years.

I'm going to miss you, Black Swamp.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Don't forget the crazy rubber band board! And ick on the coffee filter hats... they kept blowing away in the wind last year! We'll miss you there, too! We always seemed to "run into" you guys there! You can live, vicariously, through our blog this year... or a couple hour trip back to Bowling Green shouldn't be out of the question!! It's not like you're going back to UTAH... YET!!!!

mags said...

I intend to make tribal masks with my kids today. I am also going to make avery a princess making kit for christmas. Those hand made princesses kick Jasmine's tooshy.

brittani c. said...

You're not going to buy a stone goose? What's wrong with you? I guarantee you're going to miss seeing them when you're in Indiana, but then again, you're not that far away from the border...

Cynthia said...

Too bad you are moving. Who is going to remind me this year about the Black Swamp Festival?

Kent and Leisy said...

I love that stare that olivia does. The top picture is the perfect example of it! you should definitely come back for the festival next year- you can sleepover at our house if you want :)

Story Family said...

Those paper bag hats should be a nation-wide phenomenon! And I'm totally serious. I would totally wear that to the beach. It seems as if they would truly do the trick! I love all the projects you do with the girls. What a good Mommie! (The kids have to beg me to get out the paints....)

Anonymous said...

I have never heard of this before but it looks like so much fun!