Arts & Entertainment

Celebrate the Season at the Snow Ball Art & Music Festival

For an alternative weekend activity, visit this festival that aims to to contribute to a greater good by building community through the arts.


Last year's Snow Ball Art & Music Festival was a feast for the eyes and ears. While an electric violinist played on stage to the accompaniment of sound loops of himself previously recorded, visitors were free to roam around and view the various artists and vendors that filled the different sections of The Warehouse in Hartford.

There were eye-catching mixed media artwork, photographs and vivid paintings to admire. There were palm readers, aroma-therapists and body workers. In a quiet corner off to himself, a man demonstrated gong therapy, where a sonic shock to the senses was believed to produce deep relaxation.

Nearby, there was delectable food to sample as well. 

As a full-fledged hip-hop band took the stage, visitors could also take in the beauty of silk prints, woven handbags and clothing, wooden skeleton dolls and handmade ornaments.

One of last year's vendors, Erica Hulme, of Hartford, will be returning for the 3rd Annual Snow Ball Arts & Music Festival this year. She makes candles from pure soy wax and natural ingredients. "I've always been crafty and I've always loved burning candles, so it just made sense," she said. "I would give them as gifts and started getting requests for them throughout the year, so I eventually decided to turn it into a business."

Hulme formed Gypsy Lantern LLC in 2010, focusing on creating handmade products that re-use materials to encourage recycling. "We recently added a screen-printing line on textile items," she said. Bags, purses, table linens and other items are screen printed with images that are hand-drawn by one of Gypsy Lantern's artists. They can be found in thrift stores. "Look for this new line to be officially released at this weekend's Snow Ball Festival," said Hulme.

This is the third year of the Snow Ball Arts & Music Festival. The multicultural event grew from the music festivals organizer Stephanie Lush would host when she had an art studio in Manchester.

"I used to put together music festivals in summers," said Lush. She would invite her many musician friends to get together and jam.

When Lush became art director at The Warehouse, she came in contact with many other artists and exhibitors. Her interest in holding an arts and music festival grew. "While many festivals are done in the summer and fall months, I thought it would be great to do one in collaboration with a food drive right before a holiday season," she said.

It was a success from the start, building a sense of community in the arts. "Since the first one, everyone keeps asking if we are going to do another," said Lush.

The event is also a food drive and fundraiser for Foodshare of Bloomfield. Foodshare is a regional food bank, which serves Tolland and Hartford counties.

Attendees who donate a non-perishable item get a reduced entry fee. "It's a great way to give back," said Lush. "Everyone that came loved that it was a food drive and fundraiser and for a good cause."

Due to changes in management at The Warehouse, this year the festival will be held at the Charter Oak Cultural Center. "They love it that it's a big community event," said Lush. "They've never had one, and it's probably the biggest event they've had."

Hulme said, "I am excited to see the move to the Charter Oak Cultural Center this year because I think it will provide a more family-friendly and artistic atmosphere."

Last year, the festival brought in approximately 600 people. This is the first year Lush has done paid advertising for the event.  "We're hoping for 500 each day this year," she said.

The Snow Ball Art & Music Festival of 2010 will have 40 different artists and vendors, as well as 30 musicians, performers and DJs.

The band Little Ugly, an Indie folk-rock band will be performing Saturday at 8:45 p.m. "Mike Day is the forefront of that band, and it's his birthday. So we're expecting to bring out a lot of people," said Lush.

Rhythmic Circus, the jazz jam funk band, is also expected to draw a big crowd at 10:15 p.m.

"There is a lot of true talent in Connecticut," said Hulme, who is also a singer, songwriter and musician. "I believe it's important that we support our local artists, musicians, and small businesses in the area—the Snow Ball Festival does just that!"

The Snow Ball Art & Music Festival runs 2 p.m.-10 p.m. Sunday. All ages are welcome to this family-friendly event. The entry fee is $7, or $5 with a non-perishable food item—food will be donated to local food pantries. Children 12 and under are free.




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