Marblehead arts festival to hold numerous events over weekend

MARBLEHEAD – The Marblehead Festival of Arts is brightening Marblehead’s downtown again.Festival exhibits include crafts, drawing and painting at Abbot Hall; photography at the Old Town House, student and youth art at the Old North Church, mixed media and sculpture at St. Michael’s Church and ArcWorks, a festival logo exhibit, senior art and the Writers’ World program at the Unitarian Universalist Church.The Painting the Town exhibit will be at the Marblehead Arts Association (King Hooper Mansion). A group of plein air artists roamed the downtown seeking subjects today and will turn their works in Friday. Awards will be presented Friday at 2 p.m. and there will also be a People’s Choice Award winner, elected by the public at the reception. The association will also feature its Members’ Summer Exhibit.Tonight’s events include a performance by Overboard, a contemporary a cappella group, from 7-8:30 p.m. at Crocker Park, followed by the film festival showing of 12 short films from 9-10:30 p.m., also at the park. The rain location will be the Unitarian Universalist Church.Other performances at Crocker Park include Friday from noon-12:15 p.m., Village School Jazz Band; 12:30-1 p.m., Petty Thieves; 1:15-2:15 p.m. Better Than Nothing (rock); 2:30-3:30 p.m. The End of Bread (Rock/Fusion); 6-7:30 p.m. Rocco & The Stompers (swing); 8-10:30 p.m. The Boston Horns Big Band with guests Thaddeus Hogarth and Rachel Taylor.Saturday’s performers include noon-1 p.m. Anna & Craig VanRemoortel (folk), Bridge Street (rock) and Hayley Reardon (original folk/pop); 1:15-2:15 p.m. Carnival Hero (pop/rock); 2:30-3:30 p.m. Paul Phillips Band (roots rock, Americana, acoustic soul); 6-7:30 p.m. Bird Mancini (accordion/guitar rock & pop rock); 8-10:30 p.m. Chad Hollister Band (rock, blues, funk and reggae).The Writers’ World events include a talk by Phyllis Karas on how to get published Friday from 2-3 p.m. and a program of sacred poetry by poet Jennifer Jean Saturday from 10 a.m.-noon, which will include an opportunity to write poetry.Thirty-nine artisans will offer their wares for sale at the 2009 Artisan’s Marketplace outside Abbot Hall Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.Saturday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. kite lovers can build a classic Eddy Kite at Devereux Beach with Kites Over New England. A donation of $4 is required for kite materials.Model boat builders can gather outside Abbot Hall Saturday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Kits will be provided – a $20 donation is requested and supplies are limited – and the event will end with a Festival Regatta at Redd’s Pond at 3 p.m.The Sand Sculpture Competition will be Saturday at Devereux Beach from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.The Festival Block Party, featuring a variety of street entertainers, will be Sunday from noon-4 p.m. on Washington Street, from Rockaway Street to the Old Town HouseThe Theatre Festival, performed by the Mugford Street Players, includes “Dr. Love,” an original play by Linda Weltner Friday and Saturday at 2 p.m., “Thirteen Things About Ed Carpolotti” by Jeffery Hatcher Saturday at 3 p.m. and the traditional readings of winning entries in the Writers’ World competition Sunday at 2 p.m.