Issue date: 4/25/08 Section: The Verge

Celebration: A Festival of the Arts offers a variety of food, music and art. (Photos submitted by Dan Crews, Publicity director of Arts and Humanities Department)

More than 10 musical acts will perform this weekend.(Photos submitted by Dan Crews, Publicity director of Arts and Humanities Department)

More than 40 artists will be making an appearance at the festival this weekend. (Photos submitted by Dan Crews, Publicity director of Arts and Humanities Department)

To view the Celebration' schedule click here.


Eastern President Bill Perry enjoyed walking around the library quad last year.

He is looking forward to seeing the art events and taste different foods this weekend starting at 11 a.m. today during Celebration: A Festival of the Arts.

Since 1977, the festival has offered a broad range of live music, children's art activities, demonstrations, artist exhibitions and food booths.

More than 10 musical acts will perform while more than 40 artists will be selling their hand-made work ranging from paintings to jewelry.

"I expect again this year for the event to provide an excellent opportunity to gain knowledge and appreciation of the arts," Perry said. "The event provided (a) great opportunity to see the rich diversity of arts in the area."

The three-day festival will feature an assortment of music from bluegrass to rock 'n' roll.

"Anytime we take the time to experience the arts, we enlighten ourselves and expand our horizons of the breadth and possibilities of human creativity," Perry said.

Some performers include Beatles tribute band, American English, and bluegrass band, Dr. Ralph Stanley and his Clinch Mountain Boys.

The event is hosted by Eastern's College of Arts and Humanities and sponsored by the Illinois Arts Festival, Consolidated Communications and the City of Charleston.

Amanda Boldt, a freshman biological sciences major, is volunteering at Celebration with her Emerging Leaders Program.

The group was designed to help students become better leaders and increase their involvement in campus activities. The group is volunteering with the children's activities.

The event allows artists from different mediums to show the world what they've done.

"The event seems like it would be a great way to relax and have fun," Boldt said.

Valerie Gorospe was impressed by the event last year and remembers hearing the indie/rock band Elsinore.

The senior early childhood education major enjoyed listening to the different types of music and seeing the unique arts and crafts.

She is looking forward to seeing what the festival has to offer this weekend.

"It's a great idea because everyone looks forward to something entertaining and (it) helps ease your mind off everything else, especially right before finals," she said.

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