Harrisville ready for Harmony Weekend

Visitors to Harrisville over Labor Day weekend will have the chance to visit the displays of more than 400 exhibitors during Harmony Weekend.

The event, sponsored by the Harrisville Arts Council, takes place Aug. 30-31. The arts and crafts show runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the southwest and northwest corners of US-23 and M-72.

The 34th annual show's exhibitors will feature items including ceramics, wood carving, sweat shirts, hand-made purses, quilts, children's toys, honey and dried flower arrangements, said Judy Pyne, arts council president.

"The jewelry is really popular with the vendors and the artists and photography has always been good," she said.

The first Harmony Weekend took place in 1968 at the Harrisville Harbor with six exhibitors and was sponsored by the Harrisville Ladies Lions at that time. During the second year the show took place on the Alcona County Building lawn and has remained there since.

"I know the east side of (M-72) has grown tremendously, those people that are shop owners rent their lawns out. It has increased to around town for other vendors," she said.

A parade taking place at 1 p.m. Sunday will proceed from Sixth Street to Main Street and end at the harbor on Lake Street. The entries political candidates, businesses and organizations. Those who are interested in being in the parade can pick up an application at the arts council office on Third Street in Harrisville, Pyne said.

This year's parade grand marshal is 103-year-old Roland Schaadt. He was selected to be this year's marshal because he's been a long-time resident of Harrisville, Pyne said.

"He's always enjoyed the parade and he's so excited that he gets to be the grand marshal," she said.

Attendees will hear a variety of musical acts during the weekend. Saturday will feature Music on the Hill with local performers. Following Sunday's parade the Sweet Adelines and the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartets Singing in America will perform at the harbor pavilion.

Preparations for the show begin in January and things start to get busy by March once exhibitors begin sending in their applications. Volunteers will begin marking off the exhibitor areas on the county building lawn earlier during the week of the event.

"They are an excellent crew and they've been doing it for years," she said.

Patty Ramus can be reached via e-mail at pramus@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5687.