Main Street filled with gorgeous sights and sounds last weekend, featuring everything from pottery made in Asheville to an Elton John cover band from New Jersey. The smell of funnel cake, the chatter of artists exchanging inspiration, the movement of onlookers ready to shop; the energy in the air was palpable.
Every fall, the town of Davidson hosts the Downtown Davidson Fall Arts Festival, with over fifty local artists and live music. The festival brings together the town for the spirit of fall.
Vendors set their tables up and down Main St. ready to share their best works with festivalgoers. Not only were there the classic mom-and-pop shops, but there was unique art everywhere.
Among the views were emotive abstracts by Megan Amber, an artist from Asheville, NC. Drawing from her education in the Pacific Northwest, Amber said she is inspired by “ natural and organic patterns.”
Although this was her first art event, she was excited for the exposure and to share her work with adoring passersby. Her favorite part, Amber said, is finding inspiration in other artists.
“Everywhere they all go, we have our ups and downs, so it’s nice to have camaraderie,” Amber said.
There were more booths to explore along the side of Summit Coffee. Kathy Murray, another artist at the festival for the first time, had vibrant custom prints placed along her table.
Murray is from Cornelius and she taught at the Kane Center for a handful of years. Dwelling on natural wonders, Murray focuses on her motif of color and emotion. “I don’t paint exactly what I see,” Murray said. “I want it to be how I feel.”
A few feet away and up a set of stairs is a hidden gem of Globe Studio. The walls were adorned with creative art of various mediums. The owner of the studio, Peggy McBride, originally studied to be a journalist, but fell in love with the creation process.
She loves the atmosphere of the fair and watching young people experiencing art that they would not normally see. “It gives a great opportunity for young, budding artists,” McBride said. The only downside, McBride said, is that she wished it lasted longer.
As the sun set, festivalgoers grabbed funnel cakes and sat on the town green to watch Greggie and the Jets, an Elton John tribute band. Greggie transformed into Elton when he sat down at the piano, playing the keys masterfully. With his fellow musicians, his Jets, he hyped the crowd with a single simple chord: the opening riff from the 1973 classic “Bennie and the Jets.”
Big B, the drummer of Greggie and the Jets, said events like this promote the band and the love of music as well as prolong the impact of Reginald Dwight (Elton’s birthname that did not quite fit the Vegas atmosphere). Their passion radiated as fans of all ages stood up to dance and sing. “People together,” Big B says. “That’s the big power of music. It’s unanimous.”
The crowd was glued to Greggie from the moment he stepped onstage. The applause from die-hard Elton John fans, the excitement from the younger generation, and the curiosity of newcomers was just as loud as Greggie’s piano.
“We work with the community, because we know that we want to foster future generations of people who are going to like this music,” Greggie said.
The Downtown Davidson Town Arts Fall Festival lured in bystanders solely through the curiosity behind creativity. The local artists, the traveling wonders, and the music adored by fans were all showcased downtown.
Artists of all kinds came together to share their passion. “[The festival] encourages people to explore this music that they might not have otherwise,” Greggie said. “It makes people get pulled into something they may not have been aware of.”
More events will be coming to the Town of Davidson soon. The Ramble On Music Festival will take place Sept. 10 from noon until 10:00p.m. at 405 S. Main St. On Sept. 27 the town’s “Concerts on the Green” series will feature the Davidson College Symphony Orchestra on the lawn outside of the library at 119 S. Main St.