Welcome to EllwoodCity.org.  The "unofficial" site of Ellwood City, Pennsylvania

07/07/2008 10:12 AM

 

Festival Night Life - A Look At What Goes On At The Festival Once The Lights Turn Off July 7, 2008 ECO staff – Laure Cioffi, Senior Journalist (view festival photo's) ELLWOOD CITY -- When craft vendor Vern Stilson finished selling his wares at the Ellwood City Arts Crafts and Foods Festival each night, he rested his head in style. And he didn’t even have to leave Ewing Park. Stilson, a professional vendor from Erie who sells exotic plants, perfumes and other items, travels in a luxury camper to craft shows all over the country. “My wife’s there right now making a fruit salad,” he said Friday night after most of the other vendors had packed up for the night. The camper is their home away from home and has all of the luxuries including two televisions, a computer, a kitchen and other amenities, he said. While the Stilsons have the comforts of home, Avner Ofer, who traveled to the festival from Washington, D.C., spent his weekend in a tent when not selling his photographs. “It will be me and my wife in the tent all three days,” Ofer said while closing his photography stand Friday night. Lynn Jones, chairman of the festival arts and crafts committee, said vendors attending the show make a variety of living arrangements while here. Some stay with friends and others in hotels. Those who live close enough go home each night. But a number do spend their weekend in the park. Jones said there were 17 vendors with campers this year and five others who had tents like the Ofers. All were set up near Shelter 20. “We have a lot of loyal people who come because we have a good time after the festival ends each night,” said Jones, who also sells crafts at the festival, referring to those who stay in the park. Once the crafters put away their items for the night, get some food and watch the nightly entertainment, there is often an impromptu party at the campsite, she said. “We call it `Remember When,’” Jones said because many of the long-time craft vendors talk about years past. Some have been attending the festival since it’s inception 28 years ago. Dolly Gardner, who makes plastic canvas crafts, estimates she’s been coming for the last 20 years. She travels back and forth each day to her home in New Galilee, but stuck around Friday night after most of the public had left. “I enjoy it because I meet so many people,” she said.