Friday, Oct. 05 2012 10:52AM
Longview Art & World Music Fest becoming tradition
In its fifth year, the festival last year attracted 50,000 visitors
By Russ Pulley
rpulley@lsjournal.com
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ReprintNew Longview developer David Gale has unhooked his mower from his tractor to hitch a wagon.
Among many activities offered at the Longview Art & World Music Festival this weekend will be hayrides around historic Longview Farm.
The main events, of course, will be fine art in a juried show, music from classical to blues and food.
This is the fifth year for the festival and it has grown by leaps. In its first year the festival had between 40 and 50 booths and about 5,000 visitors, with a “flavor” of music, Gale said.
It keeps adding entertainment and artists, and attracting bigger and bigger crowds.
Last year attendance hit a record 50,000, Gale said.
“We had drop-dead gorgeous weather,” he said.
Keith Davenport, festival director this year and last year, said the festival is excited to have grown to 93 artists, from nine states.
The event is starting to become a tradition with area residents, he said.
“We’re starting to be known in the community of people, as well as in the community of artists,” Davenport said.
Being a juried show assures there are many styles and mediums of work, from painting, photography, jewelry, ceramics, glass and more, he said.
Davenport said the festival has rearranged the Kid’s Zone which will have four activities, spin art, face painting and an interactive mural sponsored by Summit Art. Local artist Dave Eames will be displaying his popular Roly Poly interactive sculpture.
Three stages offer music throughout the festival, which runs from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 5, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 6 and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 7 at Fascination Drive and Longview Road.
Headliners on the center stage include:
• Bobby Smith and AKA Blues at 7 p.m. today.
• Jah Lion Reggae at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 6.
• Jason Vivone & The Billy Bats at 2:45 p.m. Oct. 7.
Returning to the festival will be Shanice and Maurice Hayes, Kansas City vocalists who were 2012 “America’s Got Talent” semifinalists, appearing on the center stage at 3 p.m. on Oct. 6 and 1:30 on Oct. 7.
Street vendors will include Caribbean, American, Italian and Mexican foods.
For a $2 donation to the New Longview Foundation visitors can take a half-hour tour which will feature a narration explaining the history of the 1,700 acre Longview Farm that was once considered “The World’s Most Beautiful Farm.”
That foundation is raising money for an endowment for the long-term maintenance of historic arches and pergola that have been restored as part of preservation efforts for area’s historic buildings.
There will be a chalk-art competition with teams from Lee’s Summit high schools and middle schools. Teams at the schools submitted graphics as initial entries, the best were selected to attend the festival and do the chalk drawing live Saturday morning. Student art grades 7-12 from the Lee’s Summit School District will be on display at the Student Art Pavilion.
Davenport said this is the second year the festival will have zero waste going to landfills, everything will be recycled or composted, with Missouri Organics leading that effort, with Ripple glass and volunteers from Longview Farm Elementary School and the New Longview Foundation.
The festival is a collaboration of Summit Art, Gale Communities, the New Longview Foundation, and the Lee’s Summit School District with Saint Luke’s East hospital being the major sponsor.
