Lakeville celebrates 20 years of Arts and Music Festival
From left: Jaxton Olivier, 5, Zella Ladetto, 10, Wilder King, 3, Maverick Olivier, 5, and Heather Olivier at the Lakeville Arts and Music Festival on Oct. 4. Photos by Grace Roche
Members of The Elastic Five band perform at the festival. 
Sadie the dog enjoys pets. 
Festival visitors shop at vendor booths. 
Vendor Sheryl LeBlanc wraps up a piece of art at the festival. 
Sheryl LeBlanc's shell artwork. 
Performers from the Old Colony Highlanders pipe band at their tent.
From left: Jaxton Olivier, 5, Zella Ladetto, 10, Wilder King, 3, Maverick Olivier, 5, and Heather Olivier at the Lakeville Arts and Music Festival on Oct. 4. Photos by Grace Roche
Members of The Elastic Five band perform at the festival.
Sadie the dog enjoys pets.
Festival visitors shop at vendor booths.
Vendor Sheryl LeBlanc wraps up a piece of art at the festival.
Sheryl LeBlanc's shell artwork.
Performers from the Old Colony Highlanders pipe band at their tent.
LAKEVILLE — The Lakeville Arts and Music Festival returned for its 20th anniversary with vendors, refreshments and activities in the heart of the town.
The festival was held Oct. 4 on the grounds of Lakeville Town Hall, and featured artists and musicians from across the state.
The Toe Jam Puppet Band, Apponequet High Jazz Band and The Elastic Five performed throughout the day on the center stage.
Sisters Heather Olivier, of Freetown, and Tracy Rayray, of Somerset, said the live music — particularly The Elastic Five — drew them to the event.
“It was the perfect day, " Rayray said. “A great day to be outside, listen to good tunes, enjoy all the different vendors and local artists.”
“I think it’s great, I love all the craft booths and all the little activities for the children,” Olivier added.
Vendors sold a range of handmade goods, including jewelry, pottery, stained glass, hand soaps and more.
One of these vendors, Sheryl LeBlanc, of New Bedford, creates wall art and sculptures out of seashells from Massachusetts beaches.
LeBlanc said she first heard about the event last year, after her mother sent her a Facebook post about it and recommended she apply as a vendor.
“It was a great year last year, so I made sure I did it this year,” she said.
She said she appreciated the connections she made with both buyers and fellow vendors.
“I have met the most wonderful people,” LeBlanc said. “Selling was wonderful, but meeting the people — fantastic.”
State Rep. Norman Orrall attended the festival as part of a celebration of its 20th year, but said he has frequented the event many times over the past two decades.
He said it was an event he would bring his now-adult children to when they were young, and now attends as part of the Lakeville Lions club.
“Through the years, there’s been certain things that come and go, but what I like is that it hasn’t changed a whole lot,” Orrall said. “It’s improved, but the overall sense of it is still pretty much the same.”
“It reminds people in town of the importance of the arts and cultural issues,” he added.
