CLYDEFEST ALL
Where: The Bynum Ballpark (aka Earl Thompson Recreation Park, 173 Bynum Hill Road, Pittsboro, NC 27312)
When: Saturday, April 14, 11 am – 4 pm. (Rain Date: Sunday, April 15)
by ChathamArts Intern, Lisa Li. Lisa is a freshman business and marketing student at UNC Chapel Hill.
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“It’s all about the kids” is Clyde Jones’ personal motto. Despite bearing Clyde’s namesake, the kids are truly what ClydeFEST is all about. In light of this theme, the Chatham Arts Council will be presenting a special gift to children identified by community groups in Bynum in
the form of arts scholarships during next Saturday’s 11th annual ClydeFEST. Bynum is a sanctuary where kids experience the value of the arts, sustainability, and community.
ChathamArts board member and lead coordinator of ClydeFEST, Gilda McDaniel, recalled that in addition to old crowd pleasers like Happy Dan the Magic Man or Peter Loose’ enormous African turtles, her favorite memories from the event in past years were the interactions between the kids and Clyde Jones himself. Sure enough, from the moment of his arrival in the “Clyde-mobile”—an enormous truck covered in Mr. Jones’ colorful paintings—to the highly anticipated live creation of one of his World Famous Critters, Clyde Jones captivated youngsters like no one else can.
In “Critterville”, Clyde leads the kids in cutting out critter shapes from recycled wood, painting them, and glittering them. Throughout the entire process, while Clyde helped the kids in sawing wood and using paints, he always made a conscious effort to let their creativity be the ultimate guide. “He doesn’t want [the kids] to think he’s telling them how to do it”, Gilda observed. She found the image of children swarming to Clyde—especially during his live performance of critter-making— exceptionally heart-warming. “He’s magical with the kids”, she asserted, “He absolutely adores them.”
Another unforgettably exciting moment each year is the auction of Clyde’s freshly made critter for charity. Clyde does not sell his work, so a critter from him is coveted worldwide. Gilda still vividly remembers a fiery battle on the auction floor one year. The price had steadily risen until only two gentlemen remained in the auction. Neither one refused to back down. Soon, the event was transformed into a relentless spar between the two, each offering a marginally higher price until Clyde stepped in with a truce: the price would remain at the most recent bid, but Clyde himself would make another critter and sell one to each gentleman for the same price. At the end of the day, the auction earned twice the amount of profit for charity, and the kids got to see Clyde make two critters instead of one!
Chatham Arts Council cannot thank the Bynum community enough for offering a space to create such unforgettable memories for children. The scholarships sum $500 and will be awarded to four deserving Bynum students towards the Woods Summer Camps, a local summer program of the arts. Recipients will be chosen by representatives from the Bynum community, and the scholarships will be awarded on stage, marking a proud moment for the students, their families, and the community.
“It’s all about the kids”, Clyde Jones says. ClydeFEST is a place where children can run wild with nothing but recycled materials and imaginations, accompanied by local musicians, performers, and see that sometimes old-fashioned fun makes for the most lasting memories.
Below are some of the top quality performers, food vendors, and prizes you can expect to enjoy next Saturday, April 14th at the Bynum Ballpark. Wonders await people of all ages, shapes, sizes, and types at ClydeFEST.
From the Bynum Front Porch/ClydeFEST Stage
(sponsored by Bynum Front Porch):
11:00-11:30 Tommy Edwards & Carolina Lightning
11:30-12:05 Justin Johnson
12:15-12:45 Takiri Academy
1-1:30 Bouncing Bulldogs Jump Rope Squad
1:45-2:30 Happy Dan the Magic Man
2:30-3:15 Sarah Honeybee Osborne and Joe Keasler
3:15 Woods summer camp Bynum scholarship recipients
FINALE: Critter carving and auction
Current Food Vendors Include: Jake’s Dusty Donuts, Howard Alston’s Fish Truck, The Bynum Ruritans, Triple J Ice Cream, Barney’s Hot Dogs, Little Dippers Italian Ices, Bulkogi Korean BBQ
Chances to win prizes and Clyde Critters. In addition to our Annual ClydeFEST Critter Auction, our Raffle Items include: Clyde Jones Gator Sculpture
Gift Certificates to: unWINEd, Women’s Birth and Wellness Center, Advanced Auto, Doug’s Auto, Pittsboro Auto Care, Glazed Expectations, Marbles Kids Museum, Museum of Life & Science, YMCA, Siler City Country Club, Townsend Bertram, Mama Dip’s, New Horizons Trading Company, Carolina Brewery, …and more!
And Thank you to our Sponsors!!! Captain John’s Dry Dock Seafood Restaurant Crook’s Corner Weaver Street Realty Small Café Life 1031, Sanford
ClydeFEST TICKETS: $7 FOR ADULTS & INCLUDE A CHANCE TO WIN A CLYDE CRITTER, $3 for kids under 12
Fun for the whole family with proceeds benefitting ChathamArts
SEE YOU AT CLYDEFEST, 11am – 4pm, Saturday April 14th.
Complete directions and details at www.chathamarts.org.
Our Rain Date is Sunday, April 15th. We will make our official weather call at 5 pm on Friday, April 13th, so check the website or email info@chathamarts.org. Direct additional questions to 919-542-0394.
Please Help Get the Word Out Far and Wide!
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