Oakhurst ARTober in full swing
For The Madera Tribune
A chainsaw-carved bear will be hidden somewhere in Oakhurst daily during the month of ARTober.
OAKHURST — A month-long collaborative celebration of the arts in Oakhurst is in full swing with an Oakhurst Fall Festival this weekend, and concerts, theater and more later.
“With this event, we really wanted to showcase Oakhurst as an art community,” said Rhonda Salisbury, CEO of Visit Yosemite Madera County. “We are extremely lucky to have world-class art galleries, concert venues, and the historic Golden Chain Theatre … right here in Oakhurst!”
A full listing of events can be found online at www.artober.net/events/ but activities include:
31 Days of ARTober: Each day a unique chainsaw-carved bear will be hidden somewhere in Oakhurst. Come by the visitor center at 40343 Hwy 41 in Oakhurst to pick up a clue sheet.
Oakhurst Fall Festival: Oakhurst’s annual signature event will be 4-10 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday in the Oakhurst Community Park. The festival will be filled with booths offering everything from collectibles to local wine samplings, handcrafted beers, rock painting, and more along with live music. This year’s main attractions include Jedi training, an Elvis concert, and a giant Ferris wheel.
Sierra Meadows Concert Series will feature veteran bluegrass performers The Trespassers on Oct. 20.
“Another Openin’ Another Show” runs Oct. 27 through Nov. 19 at the historic Golden Chain Theatre, which will celebrate 100 years of musical theater.
ARTober in Oakhurst’s “Chalk Out” on noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 28 with art, food, music and more. There will be a prizes for the top designs in three age groups.
ARTober in Oakhurst is possible through a partnership between Visit Yosemite Madera County and the mountain’s art community.
“Oakhurst is a vibrant city of arts and among the largest artist communities, per capita, in California,” said Theresa Williams of Visit Yosemite Madera County.
The ARTober logo is the creative work of Barbara Fruehe, who moved from Santa Cruz to the local mountains in 1981 to start a career as a graphic designer for a local newspaper. She remained in the foothills and commuted to McClatchy Newspapers in Fresno, creating display advertising for five years.
