Music, art and workshops the focus of Headwaters Arts Festival

The 2006 edition of the Headwaters Arts Festival opens Friday, Sept. 22 with an exciting collection of art shows, open studios, musical performances and hands-on workshops, many of which are new to the festival this year.

The festival, which continues through Monday, Oct. 9, includes everything from Celtic music and book readings

to a juried art show and even a plasticine sculpture workshop for kids. Best of all, most of the events and activities are within 30 minutes of your home in Headwaters.

"Whether you live in Orangeville, Bolton, Erin or Mono, the Headwaters Arts Festival has something exciting for you and your family," said Margi TaylorSelf, president of the festival. "This year's events, particularly the Festival Art Show and Sale, are some of the biggest and brightest we've ever done."

The Festival Art Show and Sale, which is open to the public from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the weekends of Sept. 23, 24, 30 and Oct. 1, is the biggest art show ever mounted by the festival. It features more than 200 pieces of art by 45 local artists, including 19 who are showing for the first time

ever at this show. The Art Show and Sale is once again being held at the SGI Canada Caledon Centre for Culture and Education in Alton and is free to visit.

Last year's surprise smash hit - Armchairs, Authors and Art - once again returns to the festival with new authors. This year, Richard Clewes, Catherine Gildiner, Katherine Govier and John Terpstra join moderator David Staines of the CBC Radio Ontario Today Book Club for interesting dialogue and fine wine and food Friday, Sept. 29 from 7 to 10 p.m. Presented at the SGI Canada Caledon Centre in association with BookLore.

"This year's festival not only boasts 30 different events and open studios but also includes a wide range of creative workshops, from sketching, singing and painting for adults to cartooning, book making and sculpting for your kids," adds TaylorSelf.

Kids and adults can express their creativity in one or more of 10 different workshops. Both beginners and experienced artists will enjoy the adult-focused workshops while kids are guaranteed to have fun at the festival's many low-cost sessions that make up Kidsfest.

Workshops abound and will be held at the Historic Alton Mill; Brenda Newton's Clay Studio, 8 Walker Rd. W, Caledon East; SGI Canada Caledon Centre for Culture and Education.

For more information on Festival events, visit HeadwatersArtsFestival.co m or call 1-877-262-0545.

The Headwaters Arts Festival is supported by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, County of Dufferin, Tribute Communities, Town of Caledon, In the Hills magazine, Bryan's Fuel and Windfields Farms. Kidsfest is sponsored by Wayne Baguley, Sales Representative, and Royal LePage RCR Realty.