It's no secret that the local area is a veritable horn of plenty when it comes to talented artists.
The hungry art lover can fill his or her plate with everything from music to film, traditional art forms to experimental styles.
And in summer, the art lover's cup overfloweth as a cornucopia of festivals fills the calendar.
Here is just a sample of some of the festivals upcoming in the local area this summer:
Belleayre Music Festival
Where: Belleayre Mountain Resort, state Route 28, Highmount
When: Through Sept. 1
What: Big names in comedy and music walk the two steps up to the stage at the Belleayre Mountain Ski Resort to perform intimate shows to largely packed houses. Headlining this year's festival are Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees The Spinners, whose R&B hits "I'll Be Around," "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love?" "Working My Way Back to You," "Rubberband Man," and "One of a Kind (Love Affair)" earned the group six Grammy nominations. Along with Christine Ebersole and Josh Turner, this year's lineup also features R-rated comedy queen Susie Essman, known for her role as Susie Greene on the HBO comedy series "Curb Your Enthusiasm."
Cost: $25 to $66 for most shows
More info: http://www.belleayremusic.org; (845) 254-5600 ext. 1344; festival@catskill.net
Stagecoach Run Art Festival
Where: Franklin and Treadwell
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 7 and 8
What: A self-guided tour of artists' studios and galleries in and around the Delaware County communities of Franklin and Treadwell. Participants can speak one-on-one with the creative minds behind the oil, egg tempera and watercolor paintings, as well as wood engravings, linocuts, sculpture, collage, assemblage, etchings, photography, fine art books and more. Works will be available for purchase at galleries and studios throughout the two communities; maps are provided.
Cost: Free of charge.
Organizers say: "The villages of Treadwell and Franklin are full of architectural gems, and the surrounding foothills and farmland retain the flavor of their long agricultural past. The stunning natural beauty of these places adds to the pleasure and excitement of the hunt for special finds at the festival."
More info: 829-2206.
Glimmerglass Festival
Where: 7300 State Route 80, Springfield
When: July 7 through Aug. 25
What: Formerly known as the Glimmerglass Opera, the storied Glimmerglass Festival has expanded to include special concerts by visiting artists; behind-the-scenes tours of the Alice Busch Opera House; "Showtalk," a series of lectures about the season's operas and the themes they explore; and "Meet Me at the Pavilion," performances by members of the opera's Young Artists program as well as guest artists.
Honest Brook Music Festival
Where: 1885 Honest Brook Road, off state Route 28, town of Meredith
When: July 14 through Aug. 12
What: The festival brings prominent and up-and-coming classical and chamber musicians to the intimate and bucolic setting of a restored dairy barn in the countryside between Meridale and Delhi. The 2012 summer season (concerts are also offered in the winter) will include performances by The Claremont Trio, pianist Anastasia Rizikov; cellist Soo Bae with pianist Pei-Yoo Wang, and The Horszowski Trio.
Organizers say: "Founded in 1989 by Michael Cannon and Christopher Desler, the Honest Brook Music Festival is committed to presenting outstanding young musicians and well-known artists to the residents of Delaware and the surrounding counties in upstate New York, as well as an occasional concert in New York City."
Cost: $25 per concert; $85 for a season subscription. Children admitted free.
More info: hbmr.org; hbmf@aol.com; 746-3770; The Honest Brook Music Festival Inc., P.O. Box 309, Delhi, NY 13735.
Chenango Blues Festival
Where: Chenango County Fairgrounds, Norwich
When: Aug. 16 to 18
What: This three-day festival packs 'em in, both on the stages and in the audience, with performers from all over the globe representing a diverse interpretation of what the blues means today. The 2012 festival features musicians from Florida, New Orleans, Minnesota and Los Angeles, playing blue-collar rhythm and blues, Cajun funk, boogie-woogie, roots music, Piedmont-style finger-picking and "booty-shaking party music."
Organizers say: "The Chenango Blues Association is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to foster an appreciation of uniquely American music forms including blues, jazz, zydeco and gospel. We strive to accomplish this by presenting the highest caliber of artists in diverse settings for the lowest possible cost. This strategy is designed to make the music
accessible to as many people as possible."
Cost: $20 advance, $25 on show day; children admitted free with adult.
More info: http://www.chenangobluesfest.org; 334-5653, ext. 1; https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/60595741890/; twitter.com/chenangoblues
