Art, music, antiques featured at downtown summer festival

The Buchanan, Last Saturdays on the Common Concert Series, wraps up its summer season with the 2014 Buchanan Jazz, Art, and Antiques Festival on Saturday, Aug. 30, of Labor Day weekend.

Performances begin at noon and run through 10 p.m. Artists will have works on display at the Buchanan Common and on the Pears Mill lawn. Front Street antiques dealers will add to the mix.

The second year of the festival features a day’s worth of finger snapping, toe tapping, swinging, and swaying.

Jazz diva Kimberly Gordon and her band headline the festival at 7 p.m.

Day-time music features a trio of trios. Programming starts with the piano sound of the Dean Allrick Trio at noon; followed by the jazz guitar riffs of the Andy Brown Trio at 2 p.m.; and wraps up the late afternoon with classic jazz standards from the Rose Colella Trio.

All performances are free and take place on the Buchanan Common Performance Stage in the Downtown Buchanan National Register Historic District.

“We get a great crowd of people (for our concerts) from all over Michiana and the Lake Front. Families, kids, youngsters, oldsters you name it,” said Adam Parin, organizer of Last Saturdays on the Common.

“A lot of regulars bring their lawn chairs, picnic blankets, and dinner set-ups. Others do carry out from downtown bars and restaurants. It’s a relaxed environment with happy people having a great time.”

The Buchanan Art Center coordinates the exhibiting artists.

Media represented include pottery, fiber, wood, jewelry and recycled objects.

Set-up is a pop-up format under tents around the 1856 Pears Mill. The between 20 and 25 artists will demonstrate and sell their work between noon and 7 p.m.

This will be the last Saturday of the 2014 Pears Mill season with tours and grinding all day.

From late morning to early afternoon, Carol Kent will demonstrate corn husk doll making and Red Hawk Woman will share Native American oral tradition stories.

The Buchanan Preservation Society will offer “Pies and Pop for Preservation” to help fund ongoing mill restoration. Heirloom sodas and pops are sponsored by Redbud Hardware.

“It is a very enjoyable way for getting your family out and seeing downtown Buchanan, exploring and finding something new,” said Mary Lister, one of the festival organizers. “You will find unique things that you can’t find anywhere else.”

A special treat will be Jenny Narregan of Double J Farm returning with her goats Keena, Ryker, Jack, and Olive.

Downtown Front Street antique stores will have extended hours and collection specials.

For performer music clips, information about the Last Saturdays on the Common concerts, applications, and festival updates, visit the website BuchananCommon.org