- April 18, 2024
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Kennedy Robison helps paint the Kids' Art Wall. Once completed, the wall will be displayed at the Ormond Beach City Hall. Photos by Michele Meyers
Locals stroll along New Britain Avenue at the 7th-annual Granada Grand Festival of the Arts.
Westly enjoys the sights and sounds of the festival.
Kennedy Robison waits patiently for the purple paint.
Ormond Beach MainStreet's Becky Parker adds her personal touch to the art wall.
Michael Cornell greets his customers at his leather belt booth.
Michael Cornell demonstrates hand trimming of a leather belt.
Handmade leather belts by Michael Cornell.
Wayne Fenton is one of approximately 500 broom makers across the United States.
Dressed in traditional attire of the 1800s, Iris Crannell helps Wayne Fenton promote his handmade brooms.
Award-winning photographer Elzbieta Weron.
Barb Saucier sells soap every year at the Granada Grand Festival of the Arts.
Phyllis Crouch relaxes as she listens to her husband play guitar.
Dina Medeiros sings a little Johnny Cash for the festival goers.
Resin glass art is Margo Parenti's specialty.
Watercolorist, Dan Burleigh Phillips, amidst his expressionist paintings.
Magic the dog oversees his Adams Cameron & Co. realtors: Dwight Bailey, Andy Thompson and Harold Briley.
Local lawyer Michael Slick serves wine.
Creative director at Imagine Daytona, Theresa Lieberman, directs young artists at the festival.
The Fletcher siblings express themselves through chalk art.
Zion River Vicole-Jackson puts the finishing touches on his piece at the Young Artists' Tent.
JaxWhirligigs are a colorful, welcome sight at the art festival.
The 7th-annual Granada Grand Festival of the Arts on Saturday, Feb. 6, might've changed venues this year, but it did not change its small-town America charm.
In previous years, the festival was held in the parking lot behind the Ormond Beach City Hall, but due to CDC guidelines and current COVID-19 restrictions, the city of Ormond Beach was not ready to host public events on city property.
Ormond Beach MainStreet’s executive director Julia Truilo knew it would be imperative to move the art festival to a different location if they wanted to hold the event this year.
“The reason we have always done this event is not only for our community but for the artists," Truilo said. "Artists so desperately need to sell their art and we have the ability to offer that platform. Artists come back year after year. They like how we organize the event.”
Ormond MainStreet’s objective was to bring this event to fruition safely, which meant that vendor tents would be spaced 10 feet apart and be required to wear masks. That also meant only 47 vendor applications could be accepted as opposed to the 80 of past shows.
Acoustic duo Dina Medeiros and James Crouch covered a Johnny Cash song as festival attendees strolled along New Britain Avenue. Throughout the day, approximately 2,000 people perused artisans’ wares, gathered in the beer garden or watched their kids create artwork at the Art Wall or Young Artists’ Table.
“I had 14 shows canceled last year,” watercolorist Dan Burleigh Phillips said. “There are no art shows. So, this is close to home. Takes me a couple hours to setup. I can sell a picture and get $900 for it. I have two sold today. Last year was definitely a setback. I don’t do this for free.”
Since 2012, Truilo has pushed to establish an arts district for obvious economic generation and to cultivate a thriving cultural community in Ormond Beach’s downtown.
“It makes sense." Truilo said. "The arts, cultural and history tourist will stay one-and-a-half more days in any location and spend twice as much as the regular tourist."
