Headwaters Arts Festival runs through Oct. 8

It's time once again for the Headwaters Arts Festival, the annual extravaganza of local art shows, open studios, musical performances and hands-on workshops for the whole family.

This year's festival, which runs from Sept. 21 to Oct. 8, features everything from a juried art show, book readings and two brand-new Saturday night concerts for adults to jembe drumming, Celtic knot design and tribal mask making workshops for the kids.

"By grouping the experiences into the four main corners of the Hills of Headwaters, the Festival makes it easy for arts lovers to take in a wide range of activities, one right after the other, without having to drive long distances," said Margi Taylor-Self, president of the festival.

The Alton-Erin area is the unofficial hub of the Festival. It's a hot-bed of artistic activity, including galleries, studios and selfguided tours, and it's home to three of the festival's biggest events - the ever popular Art Show and Sale, the Armchairs, Authors and Art literary event and the brand-new Art with a Beat! Saturday night concert series. All three events are part of Showcase 2007, which is being held at the SGI Canada Caledon Centre for Culture and Education in Alton.

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. 22 and 23, and Sept. 29 and 30, features more than 200 pieces of art by 46 local artists, including 18 who are new to the show this year. The Art Show and Sale is free to visit.

"We're extremely proud of the success of our juried Art Show and Sale," continues Taylor-Self. "In the last two years, we have had 37 new artists participate in the show. Jurying is tough but the variety of artists from year to year means our visitors get to see exciting new talent alongside their favourite artists."

Armchairs, Authors and Art once again features great wine and food, and an outstanding cast of highly-celebrated Canadian writers, including Rosemary Sullivan, Frances Itani, Giles Blunt, Roy MacGregor and Sharon English alongside moderator David Staines, General Editor of McClelland and Stewart's New Canadian Library. It will be held on Friday, Sept. 28 from 7 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $20 at BookLore in Orangeville or by calling the Festival at 519-943-1149. Presented by BookLore.

For the first time, the festival will also be hosting two Saturday night concerts. On Saturday, Sept. 22, Lisa Watson opens for The Houseplants; Sept. 29, Justin McDonald opens for Grande Fir. Tickets for each concert are $12 in advance and $15 at the door; call 519-943- 1149.

Kids can also express their creativity in one or more of the 10 different workshops that make up Kidsfest. Activities range from bookmaking and cartooning to mask making and drumming, and all are lowcost.

Detailed information for all events, including Kidsfest, can be found at HeadwatersArtsFestival.co m or at 1-877-262-0545.

The Headwaters Arts Festival is supported by RBC Dominion Securities, 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. The Art Show and Sale is sponsored by RBC Dominion Securities. Showcase 2007 is supported by the Town of Caledon.