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Greenbelt’s Festival of Lights Juried Art and Craft Fair

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The Greenbelt Recreation Department Art Program’s 2015 Festival of Lights Juried Art and Craft Fair promises a wide array of hand-made wares by local artisans, plus a hands-on workshop, prize drawing, open studios and more. This event takes place at the Greenbelt Community Center located at 15 Crescent Road on Saturday and Sunday, December 5 and 6. Parking and admission are free. Saturday hours are 10am-5pm and Sunday hours are 10am-4pm.

The Art and Craft Fair will showcase the talents of more than sixty new and returning regional artists, artisans and authors in four rooms on the first floor of the Community Center. Visitors will find beautiful and useful gifts for all occasions including ceramic arts by several students, open studio participants, instructors and Artists in Residence affiliated with the Greenbelt Recreation Department’s robust pottery program and Greenbelt Pottery Group. Additional wares will include hats, scarves, bags, jewelry, musical instruments, toys, glassware, bath and body products, notecards and more. Greenbelt-based chocolatier Angelina Jao and her company Brigadeiro Life will be participating for the first time this year, offering hand-made truffles.

Members of the Greenbelt Writers Group and Maryland Writers Group will be on hand with their diverse publications. They will be joined by additional writers including Eleanor Roosevelt High School drama instructor Christopher Mannino with his original young adult fantasy novels and Greenbelter Lauren Silberman whose titles include “Wild Women of Maryland: Grit and Gumption in the Free State.”

Local artists will offer an array of affordable paintings, prints, mosaics, assemblages and photography. Gift memberships will be available for Friends of Greenbelt Theatre and Friends of the Greenbelt Museum, the latter also offering a fun array of gifts with vintage flair. The Greenbelt Arts Center will sponsor a café during all fair hours.

On Saturday, enjoy a free concert with the Eleanor Roosevelt High School Dixieland Band from 2:30 – 4:30pm in the gym. Also on Saturday, enter a drawing to win $50 in Art Bucks to spend at the Art and Craft Fair by voting for your favorite artisan in each of the show’s four rooms. Entry forms will be available at the Recreation Department Arts Program table in the gymnasium, in front of the stage. The winner of the drawing will be contacted on Saturday evening and will have all day on Sunday to shop.

Special activities on Sunday will include a studio open house and sale with the Greenbelt Community Center’s Artists in Residence. The studios will be open to visitors from 1-4pm, with wares in several media available for purchase. From 1-3pm, artist Janna Riley will lead a free workshop in which guests of all ages can decorate wrapping paper for any occasion. The workshop takes place in room 113. Registration is not required. Wear your painting clothes!

Other special activities happening nearby on Sunday will include the Greenbelt Farmers Market’s outdoor Holiday Market (10am – 2pm) and tours of the Greenbelt Museum’s historic house at 10-B Crescent Road, decorated for the holidays (1pm – 5pm, for a nominal fee).

The Art and Craft Fair does not currently have any openings for additional exhibitors. However, local artists are welcome to apply online for the show’s waitlist. Links are available at www.greenbeltmd.gov/arts. For additional arts program information, follow Greenbelt Recreation ARTS on Facebook.