LAKEVILLE—The Lakeville community braved the remnants of Hurricane Ian to attend the 17th Annual Arts & Music Festival on Saturday, Oct. 1.

Sponsored by the Lakeville Arts Council, the festival celebrated local artists, musicians, crafts, and culture on the lawn of the old Town Hall and the Public Library by the intersection of routes 18 and 105. Artisans sold handmade items including leather goods, homemade soaps, pottery, candles, and more.

Entertainers who performed included local rock band Last I Heard From You and children’s entertainers Big Ryan, Ed the Magician, and Mr. Vinny The Bubble Guy, although the Bubble Guy instead displayed shadow puppets due to the weather. Art On The Spot provided face painting services, and Joey Martino did a live painting to show the community the effort that goes into handmade art.

Martino started painting in 2017 and has painted around 450 works of art since. He went for a palette knife and a putty knife when choosing supplies to paint with. 

“It’s a privilege,” Martino said of his invitation to show his artwork. He said that he is learning his craft as he goes and has sold paintings all over the country through the craft-selling website Etsy.

Gifts from local businesses, artists, and craftmakers went up for auction inside the old Town Hall, where Martino painted and Bela Sarkozy Jr. played guitar. Among the items for auction were a previously-painted piece by Martino, rounds of golf at local country clubs, a three-month family membership to the Old Colony YMCA, a home brewing starter kit, and more.

Despite all but one musical act canceling their performances and some artisans not showing up due to the weather, festival organizer Joanne Correiri-Upham praised the “hearty” people of Lakeville who attended. In addition to selling things, artisans had to fight the rain to keep their inventory dry.

Correiri-Upham added that because the festival has been around for nearly two decades and the Arts Council has strict criteria to ensure artisans’ crafts are handmade, she was not surprised that people came out to see the items for sale.

Liz Nash, a member of the Festival Committee, emphasized the amount of “talent” on display from the artisans to the performers.

Because of the cancellations, Last I Heard Of You played an extended set on stage where they performed original songs and covered hits by bands like Pearl Jam. Lakeville natives Travis Bissel and Conner White play drums and guitar respectively, while Rupert Simpson sings.

“It’s an honor, considering this is a festival we’ve been to for over a decade,” Bissel said. “Seeing musicians perform here and now being recognized by the town is cool.”