Dozens of white tents lined the streets, housing a variety of colorful fabrics, jewelry and paintings underneath each. People crowded around the tents, eagerly observing different art pieces.
The sounds of people chatting amongst themselves and vendors trying to sell their items filled the streets.
The annual took place this past weekend, bringing high levels of excitement and attracting large crowds to Grand River Avenue.
Caitlin Kohls , a psychology sophomore, and Marquette University student Nichole Fernandez said they’ve attended the festival every year with their families since they were babies.
Fernandez said not much has really changed about the festival throughout the years, except the amount of booths has increased significantly.
Kohls said she loves the huge variety of art pieces featured at the festival.
“(I love) the soap and the candles and fragrances because they smell amazing,” she said.
Rockford, Mich., resident Ruth Jellema, one of the vendors, featured a variety of her fabric mâché sculptures at her booth.
The gray sculptures were mainly comprised of different faces and hairstyles, with each strand of hair painted neatly. The attention to detail was so precise, the sculptures looked like they were made of rock rather than fabric.
Jellema said she’s worked with fabric for so long, she can’t remember when she started. She said she’s experimented with fabric in a variety of ways; she’s stitched it, stuffed it, painted it and dyed it, just to name a few.
Jellema said she doesn’t usually do shows in Michigan because the market here isn’t great compared to other locations. She usually does a show every weekend, so it takes a lot for a show to excite her.
Regardless, she said she loves doing shows and can’t imagine getting tired of them anytime soon.
“There are always exciting moments, you just never know when they’re (going to) happen,” she said. “It depends who walks into your booth.”
Pentwater, Mich., resident Cyndy Callog, another vendor, had a multitude of paintings at her booth.
Her paintings consisted of different nature scenes and animals. Soft, muted colors were used primarily, which made the paintings look beautifully realistic.
Callog said she grew up in the woods, so nature has always been a huge part of her life and now serves as her inspiration to paint. She said she feels fortunate to have been able to make a living doing something she loves.
“(I) absolutely do get lost in it,” she said. “I love to be outside drawing and I love to paint and the hours will just zoom by.”
Callog said painting has given her the opportunity to travel around the country and meet new people. She said she’s eternally grateful for all of the wonderful experiences it’s given her.
