Plans set in motion for festival’s 40th year
Posted on Wednesday, May 14, 2008
The Bella Vista Arts & Crafts Festival is only five months away, and the event staff have been hard at work to get everything ready to celebrate its 40 th year.
A few new things are planned to celebrate the anniversary, but most of the festival will remain the same, according to Director DeLane Cox.
"It takes about 16 months to get everything ready for festival each year," Cox said. "And since we are a totally volunteer staff, we don't keep regular office hours. But we are in the office at least one day a week right now."
Cox said that schedule will continue until August, when the staff goes to five days a week. Around the first of October, they often have to work seven days a week getting everything in order and ready to go, she added.
"In total, including the community organizations that assist during the actual festival, we have about 60 volunteers each day helping with the festival," Cox said. "It takes that many to keep everything running smoothly. And we are always looking for anyone who would like to help. "
The needs right now are for a group to run the Children's Tent and another two groups to help with parking.
For the first time this year, there will be a different group each day helping with parking. These groups are rewarded by the festival for their service, but under the new system, each group will have to have a minimum of five members trained by festival staff. Those people will go back to their groups and train their helpers.
"Parking is a big deal," Cox said. "Last year, in the two days the festival was open, we estimate our attendance was around 50, 000 people. That means a lot of vehicles brought them to our site. Getting them parked, and allowing for the tractors and trams to have their routes, is a major event in itself."
A few other changes will be introduced at this year's festival, but "most will not be obvious to festival visitors," she said.
"Such things as realigning the tents and areas on the south side to better utilize the existing space are a major undertaking. But they are not something that will be seen."
There are two convenient additions that will be
Space for 14 RVs is being set aside in the public parking area at the Bella Vista festival. There will be a $ 5-per-night charge for those who camp at the site, but
Visitors may stay as many nights as they wish, from Oct. 13-19, at the $ 5-pernight cost. Because of the limited number of spaces, however, advance reservations are recommended.
The ATM machine, provided by Northwest Arkansas ATM, will allow customers to get cash to make purchases. Each transaction will be limited to $ 200, with a fee of $ 2. 50.
The festival is going together very well this year, according to Cox. Many of each year's exhibitors sign up in advance, and this year is no exception. Around 180 exhibitors, out of the expected 250, have already paid for their spaces. All of the food vendors have signed up.
The Bella Vista Arts & Crafts Festival is the fundraising arm of the Village Art Club. The nonprofit organization uses proceeds from the event to sponsor four-year art scholarships to local students; to support the Wishing Spring Art & Craft Gallery and Gallery West at Highlands Crossing; to sponsor art classes and workshops at The Studio at Wishing Spring Gallery; and to run the club itself.
For more information about the festival or the art club, or to volunteer at the festival, call 855-2064.
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