By Denise Richardson
ONEONTA _ Painting, sculpture and other artworks will line Main Street on Saturday for the seventh annual City of the Hills Arts Festival.
Downtown Main Street will be closed during the free event, which also will have activities for visitors of all ages, organizers said. Some artists will give demonstrations, and the bands Reservoir Road and Blues Maneuver will set the tone musically.
``Everybody's excited about the event,'' Cheri Albrecht, interim director of the Upper Catskill Community Council of the Arts, said Wednesday. ``It's going to be a grand day.''
Face painting, weaving, jewelry making, origami and other activities will be presented, organizers said. The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will be held rain or shine, according to a media release.
Albrecht said the city of Oneonta asked UCCCA to organize the event after the Arc Otsego announced it wouldn't continue the festival after six years. Joe Judd, Arc Otsego executive director, said the festival had been a ``huge community success,'' but the organization lost money.
``We are proud of having created such a wonderful community event,'' he said in a media release, ``and we are glad to see it going forward.''
Albrecht said she would be happy if the festival ``broke even.''
Doug Hallberg, Ernest Mahlke and David Kiehm will be panelists judging artworks, Albrecht said. Organizers said 37 artists are participating and competing for awards, including $1,000 for best of show and five $250 prizes to artists working in painting, sculpture, fine craft, graphics and photography.
Mayor John Nader will offer welcoming remarks when the festival opens at 10 a.m. Food and beer samples will be available on a limited basis, organizers said, and the Oneonta Farmers' Market will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Muller Plaza.
The arts award program will be at 2 p.m., along with a drawing for mountain bicycles and helmets. The Voice! art exhibit will be at UCCCA's Wilber Mansion on Ford Avenue, which will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Albrecht said many volunteers, including 20 students from Oneonta Job Corps Academy, have volunteered to help with activities, setting up and other duties at the festival.
Main Street Oneonta, Wilber National Bank and The Daily Star are among many festival sponsors.
``This is a huge undertaking,'' Albrecht said.
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