55th Havre de Grace Art Show Set For Third Weekend In August

— Written by Rachel Steffan

One of the oldest art shows on the east coast is still going strong after 55 years.

In addition to over 140 artists and craftspeople from across 13 states, the Havre de Grace Art Show features live music, food and kids’ activities during the third weekend in August.

Tydings Memorial Park in historic Havre de Grace, Maryland has been the site of the art show since its inception in 1963. The event overlooks the picturesque Susquehanna River and headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay.

Harford County basket weaver, Louise Beyer, says she loves the diversity and prestige of the Havre de Grace Art Show. This will be her sixth year as a vendor at this event in partnership with fellow basket weaver, June Hersey.

“The Havre de Grace Art Show has a unique variety of vendors – things you’re not going to find just any place,” Beyer said. “It has some of the most unique things I have seen at any show we do.”
Beyer and Hersey sell their hand-woven baskets at 10 to 12 shows annually and have done so for the last 18 years.

This two-day juried art show highlights artists, makers and craftspeople exhibiting and selling original work.

Fine arts and crafts available will include watercolor, acrylic and oil paintings, drawings, fiber work, floral, glass, jewelry, soap, metal work, photography, pottery, basketry, ceramics, sculpture and woodworking.

Delaware artist Justin Cavagnaro will bring a variety of his functional and decorative glass-blown work to the Havre de Grace Art Show this year.

“It’s a really nice show,” Cavagnaro said. “I love the area. The location is beautiful right down by the water. That’s why I keep coming back to it.”

Kids will enjoy face painting, making arts and crafts projects and balloons from the Oak Grove Baptist Church. The Havre de Grace Police Department will also be on site to present a safety demonstration for children.

Soroptimist International of Havre de Grace – a nonprofit organization – organizes and presents the art show annually. In order to fund local scholarships and community service projects, the show includes a raffle and poster sales at the Soroptimist canopy adjacent to the gazebo.

This year’s commemorative poster features a watercolor and ink rendition of the Concord Point Lighthouse donated by Ellen W. Eltgroth. She will be available to sign posters at her booth near the gazebo, where her work will be on display for sale.

Six bands will perform at the Havre de Grace Art Show with music ranging from southern rock/blues, acoustic pop and bluegrass/gospel, among other genres.

“There are so many great aspects of this show,” Beyer said. “We have found that people come from all over for this show.”

The Havre de Grace Art Show runs 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., Saturday, August 18 and 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday, August 19 in Tydings Memorial Park.

This admission-free event is supported in part by a tourism grant from Harford County Economic Development.

For more information and a schedule of entertainment, workshops and children’s activities, visit http://www.hdgartshow.org or follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.