There’s less than a month left until the inaugural LocalFest: Stuff Made Here, a celebration of all things locally-made planned for Saturday, September 8, at the historic Shirt Factory arts and healing center located on the corner of Lawrence and Cooper Streets in Glens Falls.
The event is an exciting showcase of both the history and continued tradition of manufacturing in Glens Falls and the surrounding region. The current national trend of shopping locally is embodied by a number of manufacturers who create value right here in the City, just as the McMullen-Leavens Company did at the Shirt Factory building from 1902 to 1976, and as the building’s more than 70 tenants continue to do today.
LocalFest will feature:
HISTORY. Timothy Wiedner, Executive Director of the Chapman Historical Museum presents on the history of local manufacturing and Dick Nason presents on the Hudson River and its role in local manufacturing.
MUSIC. A full day of homegrown live music on the lawn with local bands Closer Still, Wonder Beards, Gary Moon, Phil Henry, Steve Gallucci, Woodshed Boys, Pillowhead, The Skirts and Lights on the Horizon (times TBA). The event opens with the National Anthem sung by the Skirts and comments from local dignitaries to include Glens Falls Mayor Jack Diamond.
WRITERS. A series of local authors and writers read from and sign their works: Maury Thompson, Barbara Delaney, Russell Dunn, Carol Gregson, Larry Dudley and others.
FOOD. Gourmet food creators, farmers and local restaurateurs include East End Eatery, Rock Hill Bakehouse, SensibiliTeas, the Glens Falls Farmer’s Market, Glens Falls Food Co-Op, Donna’s Stuf’t Pretzels, Putt’s Concessions and Cooley’s Ice Cream Truck.
FUN STUFF FOR KIDS BY NONPROFITS & OTHERS. With giveaways, info and children’s activities: Charles R. Wood Theater, World Awareness Children’s Museum, North Country Arts Center, Art in the Public Eye, LARAC, Special Olympics’ Polar Plunge and more. Also: See ballooning demonstrations with UpState Ballooning, tour a fire truck, try out a hula hoop with Swirlz Hula Hoops and bounce on a Chase Sports bounce house.
GUEST ARTISTS AND CRAFTERS. Shop great handmade works by Jeanne’s Bags, Cindy’s Custom Quilts, Baby Taggy Blankets and Sew Much More, David’s Photo Reflections, Raina luminaries, Bay Street Bead Works and Christian Allen.
MANUFACTURERS. See demonstrations, sample wares and get a behind-the-scenes look at local manufacturing with Finch Paper, C.R. Bard, Liberty Graphics, Scoville Jewelers and others.
THE SHIRT FACTORY. The Shirt Factory’s many shops, galleries, artist’s studios and services are open for your browsing pleasure! We have four floors of creativity for you to explore.
LocalFest, organized by the Shirt Factory management, is made possible by generosity from the event’s sponsors. The Chronicle Newspaper is our platinum sponsor, with silver sponsorships from O’Brien Insurance, Liberty Graphics, Glens Falls National Bank, the City of Glens Falls, Rock Hill Bakehouse and Mannix Marketing. Bronze sponsors are BJSArtworks, SensibiliTeas, C.R. Bard, East End Eatery and Transition Towns Initiative. For more information, call 907-4478 or visit www.shirtfactorygf.com.