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The ARTober logo is the creative work of Barbara Fruehe

ARTober: A Celebration Of Arts And Culture

OAKHURST —  Here’s some exciting news: Visit Yosemite Madera County is partnering with the arts community in Oakhurst to present ARTober, an entire month dedicated to celebrating arts and culture throughout town.

ARTober encourages collaboration and participation from artists, musicians, writers, venues, foodies, and other creatives to showcase all things arts and culture in Oakhurst. The events are designed to encourage people to explore and appreciate the vibrancy of the foothill town, which the visitors bureau says is among the largest artists’ communities, per capita, in California.

ARTober kicks off with one of the region’s premier art events, when Sierra Art Trail Open Studio Tour starts on Friday, Sept. 29 and runs through Sunday, Oct. 1 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.

Now in its 15th year, Sierra Art Trails provides a unique opportunity for enthusiasts to see fine art and fine crafts in the making, and to meet and purchase works directly from the people who create them.

The show takes place in homes, studios, galleries, and businesses in more than a dozen communities in Eastern Madera and Mariposa Counties.

Sierra Art Trails features artists and artisans working in a wide range of media including painting, photography, jewelry, sculpture, fiber arts, woodcarving, ceramics, glass, and more.

“I am very excited to be involved in the first ARTober,” says Jon Bock, President of Sierra Art Trails. “In the Yosemite foothills, art is entwined with history. As artists, we work hard to share our skills and our passion, to promote the arts as an important cultural resource. We want to carry on this creative tradition, to share our talent, and to invite the public to celebrate with us!”

Scroll through the Oakhurst ARTober events calendar to find a wide array of art activities to enjoy, just some of which are noted below:

31 Days of ARTober: Each day a unique chainsaw-carved bear will be hidden somewhere in Oakhurst. Come by the visitor center at 40343 Hwy 41 in Oakhurst to pick up your “Clue” sheet.

Oakhurst Fall Festival: Oakhurst’s annual signature event opens on Friday, Oct. 13 from 4 to 10 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 14 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Oakhurst Community Park.

The festival is filled with booths offering everything from collectibles to local wine samplings and hand-crafted beers, plus live music.

This year’s main attractions include Jedi training, an Elvis concert, the Oakhurst Rocks booth where everyone can paint a rock, and and a giant Ferris wheel.

Sierra Meadows Concert Series featuring The Trespassers on Friday, Oct. 20. Enjoy veteran bluegrass wizards who mix it up with a little rock, blues, gypsy jazz and country.

“Another Openin’ Another Show” runs Friday, Oct. 27 through Sunday, Nov. 19 at the historic Golden Chain Theatre. This is a live theatre performance, “Celebrating 100 years of Musical Theatre.”

ARTober in Oakhurst: “Chalk Out” on Sunday, Oct. 29 is from noon to 4 p.m. Register, grab some complimentary sidewalk chalk and join in on an afternoon of art, food, music and fun. Create your own piece of art or watch as others draw theirs. It’s free to participate and there will be a prizes for the top designs in three age groups.

“With this event, we really want to showcase Oakhurst as an arts community,” explains Visit Yosemite Madera County CEO Rhonda Salisbury. “We are extremely lucky to have world-class art galleries, concert venues, and the historic Golden Chain Theatre right here in Oakhurst!”

If you or your Oakhurst business/organization would like to have an event included for ARTober or if you want more information about how you can participate, email rhonda@yosemitethisyear.com or go online to www.Artober.net.

Visit Yosemite Madera County was established to promote all there is to see and do in Yosemite and Madera County.

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