24TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF FINE CRAFT ON OCTOBER 7 & 8 

MILLVILLE, NJ (August 14, 2023) – Celebrating 24 years of artistic excellence, Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center hosts the anticipated annual Festival of Fine Craft on October 7 and 8, rain or shine! This crowd-favorite event features the work of over 125 juried contemporary and traditional artists, unique craft demonstrations, a Beer & Wine Garden, family art activities, WheatonArts signature Glass Pumpkin Fundraiser, live musical entertainment, and more! Throughout the WheatonArts campus, visitors can engage with a diverse collection of artists exhibiting and selling their handcrafted works of art. From inspired paintings, decorative ceramics, and novel jewelry to innovative wood sculptures and vibrant wearables, the Festival offers interesting one-of-a-kind treasures for everyone! Yolanda Alcorta, a co-founder of “Raíces Culturales Latinoamericanas,” joins the craft demonstrations this year, leading a Peruvian mask-making creation at the Folklife Center during the Festival. Additional craft demonstrations include Pysanky egg painting, intaglio etching, copper flame painting, and more!

“Scarecrow Construction” is notably one of the favorite family activities each year, with a wild assortment of clothing and plenty of straw to create life-size scarecrows to take home! Everyone can experience the creative process with additional complimentary art-making activities (spider finger puppets, spider web tissue suncatchers, and coffee filter bats), thanks to a special PNC Arts Alive grant. Other fee-based artistic hands-on opportunities, such as basket weaving and make-your-own fused glass projects, will be available throughout the grounds.

WheatonArts signature Glass Pumpkin Fundraiser will be back once again as an outdoor installation that invites Festival goers to be immersed around beautifully handcrafted glass pumpkins of all shapes, sizes, and colors—each individually handcrafted by WheatonArts’ Glass Studio Team. Located across from the Pottery Studio, all glass pumpkins will be available for purchase, with proceeds supporting arts educational programming at WheatonArts. 

Visitors 21 years and older can grab a seat, or a hay bale, to enjoy the Beer & Wine Garden with selections from Glasstown Brewing Company and Bellview Winery. Various gourmet food vendors and specialty food trucks will line the food court with refreshments for purchase. Additionally, visitors can enjoy live musical entertainment from South Jersey’s own Package Goods Orchestra. And the Festival fun doesn’t end there, as everyone can stop by the information table near the front gate to sign up for a chance to win a variety of WheatonArts door prizes! 

Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, October 7 and 8, rain or shine, and is included with general admission to WheatonArts. Admission at the gate is $12 adults, $11 senior adults, $7 students, and free for WheatonArts members and children ages five or younger. Buy tickets in advance online to save $2.00 per ticket! The offer ends on September 22, 2023. Experience the Festival along with special exhibitions in the Museum of American Glass and Down Jersey Folklife Center. Admission ticket special: ask for a “Tomorrow Pass” upon exiting the Festival on Saturday to get free access to the Festival on Sunday! Available by request only. Parking and shuttle service are also available free of charge.

Festival programming is subject to change. For more information, call 856-825-6800 or 800-998-4552, or visit wheatonarts.org. WheatonArts is currently open Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., April through December. Closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.

WheatonArts strives to ensure the accessibility of its exhibitions, events, and programs to all persons with disabilities. Please provide two weeks notice for additional needs. Patrons with hearing and speech disabilities may contact WheatonArts through the New Jersey Relay Service (TRS) 800-852-7899 or by dialing 711.

Funding has been made possible in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the New Jersey Cultural Trust. WheatonArts receives general operating support from the New Jersey Historical Commission, Division of Cultural Affairs in the New Jersey Department of State, and is supported in part by the New Jersey Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism. Additional support has been provided in part by OceanFirst and through a PNC Arts Alive grant.

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About WheatonArts: With a history spanning over five decades, WheatonArts has earned regional, national, and international recognition for its unique collections and programs. The Museum of American Glass (accredited by the American Alliance of Museums) houses one of the country’s most comprehensive collections of American glass – from the first glass bottles made in America to celebrated works by Dale Chihuly, Paul Stankard, and other contemporary glass artists. In the Artist Studios, visitors experience the art of glassmaking, pottery, and flameworking. From April through December, the Museum of American Glass and Down Jersey Folklife Center present special exhibitions. WheatonArts also offers traditional and multicultural programs, classes, workshops, performances, and weekend festivals. The award-winning Museum Stores offer traditional and contemporary art and craft in all mediums.

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