Get Ready For Huntley Artfest

This year’s inaugural Huntley Artfest is just the beginning, according to Tom Heling, who is coordinating the event. It’s set for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday, August 20, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, August 21.

Water color, oils, charcoal, fused glass, pottery, ceramics, wearable
fibers, pen & ink, creative writing, bronze sculptures, photography, wood sculpture and mixed media will be among the 45 exhibits by area artists, at First Congregational., on Main Street in Huntley.

“We have space for 225 artists, if we could have sold out,” said Heling, who has put together art festivals in other cities, including Milwaukee. “This is our first year doing it here so it’s been kind of interesting pulling people along.”

That meant guiding people through the paperwork, and waiting for approvals. It also meant recruiting artists, which Heling did through grass roots efforts.

“We ended up going to 22 art fairs talking to artists, letting them know about Artfest,” Heling said. “We reached out to 2,400 artists to let them know we’re having an art fair.”

The recruitment process was delayed somewhat because the user fee approval came in later than anticipated.

“By that time most of the artists had their schedules already,” Heling said. “But we have a very balanced show. We’re definitely promoting the fine arts.”

It’s also geared to be a family event, with live theatre and musical performances, food, and face painting.

Heling said he reached out to local vendors, but after a lack of interest there, he expanded the search. Concessionaires from Bloomington, Geneva, and Woodstock will serve selections including chicken, pulled pork, nachos, elephant ears and funnel cakes. United Church of Christ will sell brats, hot dogs, chips and sodas.

On the performance stage, music, drama and dance will take place both days.

“We have some very talented people playing on the stage,” he said, adding the free admission and free parking make it an affordable day for families.

About six Huntley artists will exhibit in the show, Heling said. Others reside in Crystal Lake, Lake in the Hills, Carpentersville, and Wisconsin.