Westlake Bay Village Art Festival
Westlake Bay Village Rotary Club hosted our first annual Art Festival on Saturday July 31st. Part community event and part club fundraiser, the event was successful on every level. We had a beautiful day, large turnout, and very happy artists. The festival was in partnership with Westlake Porter Public Library and Westlake School district on whose campuses the festival was held. The day consisted of over forty artists, food trucks, a Kiwanis Pancake breakfast, kettle corn, and a beer & wine garden hosted by the library’s Foundation.
Planning for the event stretches back to 2019 as we had hoped to launch last year. With another year to plan, we were able do an even better job of attending to details, promoting the event, and creating something that surpassed all expectations. The effort was led by Rotarian Joe Kraft, a past club president, whose vision for this event was limitless. Joe successfully engaged our entire club, and it was, as much as anything, an opportunity to pull together for a hands-on project with a tremendous community impact.
As a fundraiser, the money that was raised will help to support the many causes championed by our club such as Connecting for Kids, Ames House (Hospice), Lake Erie Nature & Science Center, high school scholarships, and many others.
We are already planning for next year’s event to be even better!
Jen Toohey from Star 102.1 FM opens the Festival with a ribbon cutting. Also pictured (L-R), festival organizer Joe Kraft, Westlake Mayor Dennis Clough, festival Featured Artist Eileen Dorsey (with her mayoral proclamation for Eileen Dorsey Day in Westlake, Christine Dorsey, Rotarian and Westlake City Councilperson Michael O’Donnell.
Andrew Mangels
Westlake Bay Village Rotary