GREENVILLE — Area residents flocked to downtown Greenville for another successful First Friday event, the Artisan Stroll.
The event, presented by Main Street Greenville and sponsored by Interim Healthcare and AAA, featured approximately 40 artists and artisans demonstrating and selling their wares along Broadway, as well as live music, free food and lots of activities for children.
Jed Brubaker performed live music in front of the old China Garden building, while Eric Loy performed at The Coffee Pot.
Lowe’s conducted a building clinic for kids, allowing children to grab hammer, wood and nails to build something of their own.
Chet Wirrig demonstrated chair caning, and Tim Nealeigh showed how socks were made on a 1920s circular sock-weaving machine. There was glass blowing by James Michael & Co. and rock balancing by Sterling Gregory. Sara Sutter demonstrated how she makes glass beads, and Dayle Lewis drew a crowd on the traffic circle by turning a log into a sculpture with a chainsaw.
The Chalk-the-Block Sidewalk Chalk Contest had several young artists demonstrating a range of artistic abilities in the temporary medium.
Greenville National Bank passed out free hot dogs and brats, while free popcorn could be had at Danny’s Place, and the longest line of all was for the free ice cream distributed by the First Congregational Christian Church.
Two locations featured caricaturists to put your face on canvas (or paper, actually), and two other locations offered free facepainting to make your face the canvas.
Attendees posed for pictures with giant dinosaur sculptures, and children had a storytime, craft and snack with Elaine Tomski, author of “Behind My Bellybutton,” at the Bread of Life Christian Bookstore.
Students from Young Forest Martial Arts offered demonstrations, and the farmer’s market around the courthouse had plenty of samples of tasty treats on hand.
