Cultural Arts Division Announces First Annual Carousel Arts and Crafts Show March 24 and 25

KINGSPORT – Cultural Arts Division of Kingsport Parks and Recreation announces the first annual Carousel Arts and Craft Show on Saturday and Sunday, March 24 and 25 at the Civic Auditorium on Fort Henry Drive in Kingsport, Tennessee.‚  The show will be free and open to the public and feature the carousel animals currently being hand carved by volunteers for a working 1956 Herschell Carousel to be installed next year.‚  40 of the finest local and regional vendors will have their woodworking and handmade items available for purchase ‚¬ many with a carousel theme.

The Carousel Project is a volunteer-led effort to establish a working carousel in Kingsport.‚  The project came together 2.5 years ago under the leadership of Reggie Martin, Ted Heilig, George Gibson and Milton Nelson.‚  Since then over 18 local volunteers have joined the effort carving buffalo, frog prince, tiger, lynx, rabbit and of course horses.‚  The animals are being painted by lead-artist Suzanne Justis and a team of volunteer painters.‚  The 1956 Herschell frame is a gift to the City of Kingsport from the Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport, Connecticut.‚  The frame will be fully restored and painted before it is assembled in a new carousel building that will be constructed near the newly restored Farmers Market building on Clinchfield Street in downtown Kingsport.

The Carousel Arts and Craft Show will feature vendors specializing in handmade unique items especially woodworking.‚  The show will have a carousel theme.‚  Hours for the show are Saturday, March 24 10 AM ‚¬ 6 PM and Sunday, March 25 Noon ‚¬ 5 PM.‚  The Civic Auditorium is located at 1550 Fort Henry Drive in Kingsport, Tennessee.‚  For more information call 423-392-8416.