THURSDAY, April 29, 2010 - If you believe you've already seen the Sanford Pottery Festival, think again. With new pottery, traditional arts and crafts, an expanded wine tasting and special activities for children, the ninth-annual event offers something different and fun for the entire family.
This year's Sanford Pottery Festival runs this Saturday and Sunday, May 1 and 2, at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center in Sanford. Hours are Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $5 per person; children under 14 are admitted free.
Top potters from the Seagrove area and beyond attract about 7,500 visitors each year from hundreds of miles away, and this year should be no exception. In fact, festival creator Don Hudson believes even more will come this year to enjoy the festival's expanded wine exhibit.
"A Celebration of North Carolina Wines" features samples from 12 wineries across the Tar Heel state. Admission to the tasting is $10 per person - you must be 21 years of age or older - and wine can be purchased by the glass, bottle or case.
A special coupon available online provides free admission to the Sanford Pottery Festival with the purchase of two wine tasting passes at the gate. (The Pottery Festival has made coupons available to the Committee of 100 by clicking here for the free pottery festival flyer.)
In addition to receiving free admission to the festival, children can buy unfinished pottery, paint it with glaze and have it fired on site for a creative keepsake or gift for teachers or grandparents. (Don't forget: Mother's Day is barely more than one week away!) And, the first 500 children who visit the Teachers' Tent will receive one pound of authentic stoneware clay.
An Economic Engine
The Sanford Pottery Festival is more than a family-oriented festival for the community. It's also an important economic engine for Sanford and Lee County. Thousands of tourists pour into town each year for the two-day event, some getting their first glimpse of all the area has to offer.
While they're here, many venture to downtown shops, dine at local restaurants or catch a show at the Temple Theatre. (Rogers and Hammerstein's "South Pacific" opens tonight and runs through May 16.) More importantly, many will return during the year.
Bob Heuts, director for Lee County Economic Development, says people all over know about Sanford because of the festival.
"When I travel through the state and tell people I'm from Sanford, a lot of them immediately ask about the Sanford Pottery Festival," he says. "It's something that sets our community apart and gives us the well-deserved reputation as an vibrant, artistic place to live and work.
"So, not only does the festival generate economic activity during its weekend run, but it has an important, lasting impact all year long."
Plans for Expansion
Local companies apparently understand the festival's impact. Pfizer, the world's largest research-based pharmaceutical company, has become a major festival sponsor in its first year operating locally. Their help, Hudson says, has been essential to creating this year's event.
"Their predecessor, Wyeth, was instrumental in getting the festival started and we're very happy that relationship has continued with Pfizer," Hudson says. "We share many of the same goals, including the welfare of children. Pfizer makes life better with childhood vaccines and we're trying to do the same by generating significant funding for arts education."
Other major sponsors include Kangaroo and Central Carolina Hospital, though the full list of sponsors is much longer. "We have a number of generous sponsors," says Hudson, "and we're very grateful for this."
Big plans are in the works for an expanded festival to celebrate the 10th anniversary in 2011. For more information about the Sanford Pottery Festival or to sign up for the festival e-mail list, visitsanfordpottery.org.
