LAKEVILLE — The grassy stretch at the corner of Precinct Street and Route 18 in Lakeville bustled with commotion Saturday, Oct. 5, as shoppers surveyed the work of local artisans and entertainers showcased their talents at the 19th annual Lakeville Arts Festival.

Festival attendees had the opportunity to buy locally made crafts, chow down on yakisoba noodles and even master their hula hooping technique, all while music from local bands filled the air. 

The collection of 40 vendors, non-profit organizations and performers, like hula hoop dancer Judi Joney, made for an “impressive” spectacle, according to first-time festival attendee Jack Jouett. 

“When you consider the size of a town like Lakeville, you don’t think that something this big could be put on,” said Jouett, who moved to Lakeville with his family last year.”

Stopping by the fair is a non-negotiable for members of the Farris family, who also live in Lakeville. 

“It’s tradition for us,” said Lori Farris, who noted her kids have “grown up coming every year.”

“I love bringing the kids here and seeing them all walking around, mingling with their friends and exploring all the fun things that Lakeville has to offer,” she noted. 

Since its inception, the Lakeville Arts Festival has operated with a simple mission: “to promote culture,” said Lakeville Arts Council chair Joanne Correira-Upham. 

“We’re trying to educate people,” said Correira-Upham. The festival is sponsored in part by the Lakeville Arts Council.

The event is special in the way it gives back to the community by supporting local artists, musicians and non-profits while also “sharing their talent” with the public, she said. 

Items like the handmade baskets that are sold at the festival can’t be found in Michaels, the retail crafts chain, she noted. “You’re going to pay triple the amount, but it’s going to last for years.”

The gnomes made by Three Generations Crafts certainly could not be found on a department store shelf. The mother-daughter operation, based in Taunton, sells handmade gnomes and crocheted items. 

Owners Mary and Christina Moniz love to watch people’s reactions to their disarming creations. Seeing people smile as they peruse the display, whether or not they make a purchase,
“is a great feeling,” said Christina. 

The crafters at the festival are hand-picked by the Arts Council, which firmly upholds the mission to support all things local, according to Correira-Upham. 

Food trucks, for instance, are not allowed. “It’s not that we don’t like them, but we’re trying to help [local organizations and businesses] fundraise too,” she said. 

One station gave families the chance to decorate a pumpkin that will be placed outside town department facilities, according to Correira-Upham. This feature was a hit among members of the Jouett family. 

Jack Jouett appreciated how the fair offered something for all ages. “It’s cool that it’s so family friendly. We feel comfortable as a family being able to bring the kids. There are plenty of things for them to do,” he noted.