Nature Arts Festival returns to Big Creek

Geauga Park District’s 25th annual Nature Arts Festival, which offers a variety of fine arts on display and for sale by regional artists, will return to Big Creek Park after more than a decade at The West Woods.

Since it is taking place at the park in chardon Township, organizers are promoting it with the nearby Chardon Square Association’s 36th annual Chardon Arts Festival. There will be a free, five-minute Lolly the Trolley ride to Big Creek Park.

Chardon’s two arts festivals take place 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 7.

Admission and parking are free. For maximum convenience, all parking is recommended near Chardon Square with a short trolley ride to the Nature Arts Festival due to limited space at Big Creek Park, according to a press release.

In addition to shopping for nature-inspired artwork, this year’s park festival-goers will be able to peruse locally made goods at a unique Farm-Artisan Market; snack from food trucks/booths; relax under a tent with live music; encounter roving stilt walkers and music; select face paintings and balloon sculptures; create make-n-take projects and chalk art; hop aboard the Kid at Art Bus; try Zentangle; and at 3 p.m., enjoy readings by winners of the 21st Annual Nature Writing Contest, followed by an open mic for Nature writers.

Blacksmiths from the Western Reserve Artist Blacksmith Association also will hammer away during live demos.

“The Nature Arts Festival continues to be one of the area’s finest shows for Nature-inspired artwork,” said Teresa Runion, special events coordinator at the Park District. “This 25th anniversary brings it all back to its roots at Big Creek Park. Plus, now there’s no need to select one Geauga County arts festival over the other – both are easily attainable right here in Chardon.”

The Nature Arts Festival is entirely wheelchair/ stroller accessible. A complete schedule of events is now available at http://bit.ly/gpdspecial.

Call Runion at 440-2790882 with questions about the Park District festival, or call Mariann Goodwin at 440-285-8686 with questions about the Chardon festival.