ALYSSA BUMP
Editor in Chief
Under the sweltering August sun, the Fredonia Farm Festival brought locals, college students, volunteers, performers and vendors to the Chautauqua County Fairgrounds from Aug. 27 to Aug. 29.
Normally, the festival is held in Barker Commons, but due to construction, it was relocated to the fairgrounds.
Sharon Kaminski, the logistics chairperson on the Fredonia Farm Festival committee, has worked at the festival for the past five years.
According to Kaminski, “The nice thing about the park [Barker Commons] is walkability. But the other issue is there’s not much parking… this location offers us lots of parking and we can spread people out a bit more.”
Kaminski noted the traffic to the festival is about the same as previous years despite the change in location.
At the festival, there were 102 craft vendors, 24 food vendors and multiple musicians that performed between the main stage and the mini stage.
The festival did not charge a fee for admissions, so festival goers only had to pay if they were purchasing items from craft or food vendors.
Judy Mortellaro was one of the many vendors at the festival. She stood barefoot under her tent, where she was selling her fabric art.
Mortellaro displayed handmade tote bags, yoga mat bags, small purses, meditation pillows and fabric wall hangings for sale.
Her table had a sign on it that read, “I am an artist creating with fabric. I design and sew with deep respect and awe that filters through me. I invite you to journey with me into the beauty and mystery of all that is.”
Mortellaro was once a yoga instructor, and she draws much of her inspiration from astrological signs.
One of her wall hanging designs shows a blue whale, which she said came to her in a dream. The design also includes a lighthouse, the sun and a person standing with their arms up.
Much of her work focuses on transformation and mindfulness, which is evident through her designs.
Many of her items have butterflies, lotuses and yoga poses sewn on them.
This is Mortellaro’s first time selling her products at the Farm Festival, and she recently started selling her work in February.
“I always liked to sew, and I did sew for friends and family. But I hadn’t sewed in large numbers like this,” said Mortellaro.
This is Mortellaro’s third festival she has sold her work at, and she has sold around 20 items.
She doesn’t currently have an Etsy, but Mortellaro is thinking about creating one for her art.
However, she said she prefers having contact with the people that purchase her items.
“I feel like part of what I’m doing is expressing my creativity but then also passing it along.”
Between the other hundred craft vendors, festival goers could purchase items ranging from handmade soaps, tie dyed clothing, jewelry, plants, farm-fresh produce, and more.
As for the food vendors, hot dogs, pizza, smoothies, blooming onions, fresh-squeezed lemonade and shaved ice replenished festival goers under the hot sun.
Many people could be spotted finding shade underneath bleachers and trees or at picnic tables. One man even resorted to using a hose to cool off.
Nonetheless, all of the children, teens and adults seemed to be enjoying the festival, even if they were a little sweaty while doing so.
Christine Whitecar, a junior at SUNY Fredonia, said the Farm Festival “was a super fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon. I loved walking around and seeing all the different things that the vendors were selling, and it was awesome to see both students and the community coming together.”
Kaminski also feels the festival is a great way for the community to come together.
She said, “We are right in the middle. We have the city of Dunkirk, the village of Fredonia and the university very close to us. It’s been wonderful to have a mix of these communities.”
This year marks the 52nd Farm Festival, and Kaminski said “it’s really grown over the years… we’ve really come a long way in 52 years.”
The festival started out much smaller than it is now, and most of its growth has depended on the volunteers.
“I want to stress the volunteers — it’s so important that people are willing to volunteer and help out,” said Kaminski.
About 40 to 60 people decided to volunteer for this year’s festival, spanning between high schoolers, college students and even seniors. The 53rd Farm Festival will be held next Aug. 26 to Aug. 28, and those interested in volunteering can check out the Fredonia Farm Festival’s Facebook page.