Artists judge scarecrows, pumpkins at festival

(Note: This post was previously published on the New Haven Register's View from the Valley blog.)

Harvest festival contest winners announced

Scarecrows, pumpkins get prizes

ANSONIA - Cultural Commission Chairwoman Judy Nicolari today announced the winners of the scarecrow making and pumpkin decorating contests held Saturday at the ninth annual harvest festival.

Valley Arts Council members Greg Karas and Steve DiRienzo judged the artwork.

In the scarecrow competition, first place ribbons went to My Sister's Place; AT Bay; Stauffer Real Estate; L2 Innovate Computers; second place went to the Friends of Ansonia Library; PM Lounge and Michele's Alterations took third place. 

Pumpkin-decorating contest winners are listed below.

First Place, Ansonia Middle School:

Ashely Ambrose

Victoria Gold

Payton Westine

Melissa Healey

Sean Morales

Anthony Valez

Second Place, Ansonia Middle School:

Christopher Waugh

Jason Edwards

Krystal Pellegrino

Dan Bedoya

John C. Mead and John G. Prendergast elementary schools:

First Place:

Karyme Serrano

Jaxon Anderson

Mya Zayas

Second Place:

Matthew Lundeen

Victoria Gavin

Third Place:

Marissa Pelligrino

Jackie Finney

Ardit Gjonbalaj

Symone Finney

Jackie Finney

Faith Alteri

Labels: Ansonia Harvest Festival, contest, pumpkins, scarecrows

Arts council works in the community

Members to judge contest entries 

Editor's note: This was posted today on the New Haven Register's View from the Valley blog.

Ansonia getting ready for 9th annual Harvest Festival

Vendors sought for Oct. 6 event

ANSONIA - It may still be summer, but members of the Cultural Commission are busy preparing for an onslaught of scarecrows, pumpkins, hay bales, mums, and more on Main Street.

That's because the city's Harvest Festival is only a month away.
The ninth annual event will be held from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Oct. 6 along Main Street. Rain date is Oct. 13. 
There will be a lot of new arts and crafts vendors along with the "old reliables" who have participated since the festival began, Cultural Commission chairwoman Judy Nicolari said.

"This year we've added a new attraction featuring Chris Clark who will be showing  the audiences fantastic stunts on his bicycle," she said. "It's an act not to be missed."
The time and location for Clark's performance will be announced at a later date, Nicolari said.

A scarecrow-making contest will also be held. The contest is open to all who register their scarecrows with the Valley Arts Council at its booth, Nicolari said. Winners will be based on workmanship and skill effort.

There will be a pumpkin-carving contest held in the Ansonia school system. Participants are asked to bring their carved pumpkins to Veterans Park next to City Hall by 12:30 p.m. at the latest for judging by the Valley Arts Council.

There also will be music performances on two stages throughout the day.  Programs will be available at the festival listing the scheduled times for all the performances.

Car show, chalk art

A classic car show will take place on Bridge Street, and amusement rides will be set up behind the River Valley Baptist Church.
A free moon walk bounce for kids will be provided by TEAM, Inc. throughout the day.
A chalk drawing event, which was very popular last year, will again be held on Water Street. Chalk will be provided.

Anyone interested in signing up as a vendor may visit www.cityofansonia.com or contact Nicolari, 203-732-1040, or Cultural Commission member Mary Gibson, 203-734-2484.

The above is taken from a press release from Judy Nicolari. 

Labels: Ansonia, Cultural Commission, harvest festival, pumpkins, scarecrows