The 2016 Catonsville Arts and Crafts Festival showcases Local Diversity

Sebastian Brush

The Catonsville Arts and Crafts Festival celebrated its 44th year in downtown Catonsville on September 10th. Every year, as autumn falls over Catonsville, thousands gather to celebrate local and global art, music, and community on a closed down stretch of Frederick Road.The festivities draw a crowd of varying ages, ethnicities, and upbringings that really shows just how diverse our local community is.

One major benefit of the festival is the attention it brings to local businesses in and around the Catonsville area. Whether it’s a building right on the block, someone setting up a booth, or simply handing out fliers; anyone can get their business noticed by the community and it can be an outstanding way to advertise.

Andy Bridges of Cosmic Comics, a local business, explained that he sets up a booth at the festival every year to, “be part of the community, and share [his] love for comics.” Just like Cosmic Comics, small businesses can take advantage of the fair to not only sell their product, but put their name out there and bring more and more people to their business on a daily basis. A shown interest in the community also puts a positive light on local business in comparison to big businesses.

The Catonsville Arts and Crafts Festival is an event for people of all ages, including CCBC students. The Arts are a very prominent form of study on our campus. So, a festival like this is a prime place for college students to share their art outside of the classroom or even be inspired for their next project. Max Arias, a CCBC student and employee of a local restaurant, worked at the Catonsville Gourmet tent. He said the festival had, “a pretty open vibe that people could chime in to and relax in.”

The most prominent feature of the Catonsville Arts and Crafts Festival is obviously the art one can experience or even take home with them. Artists both local and foreign take advantage of such an event to showcase their best and most interesting works. Walking down the street, one will see anything from intricate paintings to handcrafted jewelry to beautifully woven hoodies. Anyone with a little bit of cash can go home with an original piece of art, and that’s not something to overlook.

Even if one is not an artist, this event is a great place for a student to relax, explore the Catonsville community, and get a break from the stresses of school. Even students who aren’t from this area would benefit from attending this event because it is a great place to see what restaurants and shops Catonsville has or even to meet a few new neighbors. The Catonsville Chamber of Commerce explains on their website that, “The festival is a celebration of not just art, but Catonsville and all it has to offer.”

So, next year, look out for the Catonsville Arts and Crafts festival and keep it on your schedule. The festival offers a variety of games, performances, and art that is so plentiful, anyone could find something fun to do!