Come to the 2nd Annual Westerleigh Folk Music and Art Festival in Staten Island, June 20

On Saturday, June 20, 2009 from 12:00 noon until 7:30 pm, the Friends of Westerleigh Park will sponsor the 2^nd Annual Westerleigh Folk Music and Art Festival in Westerleigh Park. The 2.89-acre Westerleigh Park, in Westerleigh, a North Shore neighborhood of Staten Island, is between Maine, Springfield, Neal Dow, and Willard avenues. The festival is free, and open to the public.

The festival will feature performances by a number of local folk, blues, and gospel bands that include:

• Bob & Ruth;

• Folk/country/pop/rock band Joan Caddell & The Midnight Choir;

• Blues and classic rock band Guys In The Band,

• Guitarist and vocalist Jim Indell;

• Guitarist and vocalist Karlus Trapp,

• Louise Luger;

• Morty Jacobi with Stan Jay;

• Folk musicians Norm Pederson & Bob Conroy;

• Songstress Queen Tipsy;

• Rob & Ellen;

• Distinguished bagpipe and drum band The Staten Island Pipes & Drums;

• Two of Us; and

• "The island's premier jug band", The Wahoo Skiffel Crazies.

The festival will also feature art exhibits by visual artists. Quilters, jewelers, and other craftspeople will also have tables at the festival. Lombardi Guitar Works and SGR Guitar repair will also be at the festival. For more information, email Jim Indelicato at rnsx2jm@msn.com.

Prospective attendees are advised to bring chairs or blankets to sit on in the park, as there are few park benches. The festival will be held on Sunday, June 21 in case it rains on Saturday. Refreshments will be served. Also, the very well-regarded Korean fried chicken restaurant Bon Chon Chicken is close by at 1267 Forest Avenue.

To get to Staten Island by the Ferry from one of the other boroughs, take the 1, N, R, or W train to South Ferry-Whitehall Street. Alternatively, you can take the 4 or 5 train to Bowling Green and walk a few blocks to the terminal. The ferry is free to ride. For complete directions on how to get from the Ferry to Westerleigh Park by bus or by foot, check out this Google Maps page.

According to the Friends of Westerleigh Park's website, their programs "are made possible by grants from the Richmond County Savings Foundation, Councilman Mitchell, Assemblyman Titone, the Council of the Arts and Humanities for Staten Island, Goldman Sachs, Community Teamworks, Barnes and Noble, New York City Parks and Recreation, and generous donations." For further information about this event or other upcoming events in Westerleigh Park, call 1-718-442-0336.

Sources

Amanda Waas, Westerleigh Park, Time Out New York

Westerleigh Park, New York City Department of Parks and Recreation

Homepage, Westerleigh Improvement Society

2nd Annual Westerleigh Folk Music and Art Festival, Staten Island Collaboration