Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - This Saturday and Sunday, over 330 artists and crafters from the Western New York area and around the country will showcase their works and talents on the streets of the City of Buffalo during the 67th annual Allentown Art Festival.
What some consider to be the unofficial kickoff to the many warm weather festivals that ensue in and around the Buffalo summertime, the Allentown Art Festival is one of those can't miss events that offer something unique every year.
"We have artists on Delaware, Virginia, Franklin and Allen, we have the food trucks on Franklin also. It's really a lot of fun," says Rita Harrington Lippman, Allentown Art Festival President.
It's artist demonstrations galore this year at the art fest!
"This year, in front of our office at 439 Delaware, we will have artists giving demonstrations of how they do their work, we have a jeweler who's going to show you how he makes jewelry, actually hammering the silver," Lippman detailed. "We have some young ladies from Buffalo State College who have pottery wheels, and we'll be making pottery and we also have Corning [Museum of] Glass bringing a glass blower."
As Lippman notes, this festival is a great opportunity to connect the public to local artists and support them by purchasing things you won't be able to find anywhere else.
One newcomer to this year's art festival who is excited to showcase their creations is Jeff Patnode of Nickel City Makers from the Cheektowaga area.
"My wife and I make wonderful wood and leather creations. Boxes, purses, we have purses that are really leather purses with wooden panels or wooden sights and I have wooden boxes with leather tops and leather linings and all kinds of beautiful beautiful things of that nature," said Patnode with WBEN. "We've been doing it for a little over a year as a side job, and this will be our first visit to the Allentown Art Festival."
Jeff Patnode of Nickel City Makers showcases some creations that will be available for purchase at the Allentown Art Festival, including a humidor and some unique purses and handbags.Max Faery - WBEN
Patnode notes all of their sales are either done online or through shows like this, so it's a very important for them to have this opportunity so they can meet new buyers and share their story.
They'll be on the corner of Virginia and Franklin Streets this weekend. You can find more of their works here:
Buffalo native Linda Jurdi works as an artist and graphic designer, and is excited to showcase some of her oil painting, as well as her micron and water soluble graphite drawing work.
"I do have a website and I've been working on my drawings for a while, but I really haven't marketed myself at all or been able to talk to people outside friends and family about my work, so that's probably what I'm most excited about," said Jurdi with WBEN.
The festival is on Saturday, June 8, 2024 and Sunday, June 9, 2024 starting at 11 a.m. ET on both days and concluding at 6 p.m. ET. There is no admission price. Find more information here:
