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*The ticket for this event was provided by Appel Farm Arts & Music Center, but as always, all opinions are my own.
I’m an artsy girl. Writing, theater, dance, I love them all. I even admire the arts I’m fairly terrible at like drawing, music, and fashion. So when Appel Farm Arts & Music Center invited me to the South Jersey Arts Festival, I was enthused.
If you are local to the area, you may be familiar with Appel Farm’s Music Festival. The Arts Center wondered why music was having all of the fun, and decided to create a festival that incorporated all forms of art. They also added science, because they believe the combination of art and science will create a hope-filled future.
I arrived at the festival right at the start to ensure I didn’t miss a thing.
Music
As I wanted to experience everything the South Jersey Arts Festival had to offer, I made sure to do a little bit of everything.
I sat on the law and made my ears happy by listening to Adam Travis and the Soul,
and the West Philadelphia Orchestra.
Both bands were great. I started following them online so that I can see them play in the future. What I especially appreciated was the quality of music, the bands’ enthusiasm, and that they had completely different styles of music.
If there was a word for the day at the South Jersey Arts Fest, it was, variety.
Dance
Spain is high on our travel wish list, and the Alborada Spanish Dance Theater, made me even more excited to visit.
The neat thing about Spanish dancing, is that it’s so much more than dance. There is beautiful music, vibrant costumes, and the rhythm sounds spilling out from the dancers’ castanets and stomping feet.
The radiant dancers transfixed me.
There were also Polynesian dance lessons, and hula-hoop dance lessons, happening during the day.
Writing Fun
Yes, I’m a bit biased. I sincerely loved all of the performers and activities at the South Jersey Arts Fest, but Adobo Fish Sauce was my favorite. Their performance involved two of my passions, food and writing.
They taught those present at their workshop, how to construct thoughtful, powerful, poems, and how to make tostones.
I don’t think I’ve ever had anyone explain how to create poetry in an as easy to understand and enthusiastic way.
Everyone in the workshop was able to take part in the poetry writing and the tostone creation.
Having traveled around Central America, I’ve had my share of tostones. I can say with absolute certainty, that Adobo Fish Sauce’s tostones, were the best I’ve had so far.
Their workshop was the highlight of my day. I hope the South Jersey Arts Fest will incorporate even more writing activities at future fests (there was also a song writing workshop that I didn’t get to).
Other Interactive Fun
I was glad that the South Jersey Arts Fest included the Art of Wine Making tent, hosted by Auburn Road Winery.
They had a few activities during the day. I took part in the Vertical Tasting. As an appreciator of wine, this was something I found very cool.
Essentially, we got to taste the same wine, but from different years. It was fascinating to taste the contrast between the 2014 and the 2016.
There was a S.T.E.A.M tent that involved hands-on art/science activities.
In the Visual Arts tent, I got to make a print, with Paprika Letterpress, using a vintage press.
It was terrific, and was a nice, little, souvenir from the day.
The South Jersey Arts Fest occurs every June. It’s a wonderful event for anyone who has a fondness for the arts. I had a marvelous day, and can’t wait to attend again next year.
If you don’t live in the area, and want to attend the South Jersey Arts Fest, there are plenty of activities to keep you busy in Salem County, NJ. for a multi-day trip.
