Northern Lehigh Future Focus, a community visioning group, will sponsor the 5th Annual Northern Lehigh Arts Fest, on Saturday, Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. in the 500 and 600 blocks of historic Main Street, Slatington. Sunday, Oct. 4 will be the rain date.

Arts Fest is a one-day fine arts, crafts and antiques sidewalk show. Arts Fest exhibitors will be spread out along the Slatington business district and will be displaying and selling their wares. Local and regional artists, crafters, antique dealers, photographers, authors, candy makers, and jewelers will participate.An art gallery will be set up at the Slatington Library, 650 Main Street between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and will feature artwork, photos, and miniatures from local residents and high school students.A food court serving a variety of food and drink will be located in the public parking lot in the 600 block. In addition, several local restaurants and community groups will also be selling food throughout the 600-block area. Local guitarist Logan Bachman will be performing in the food court.Hourly music entertainment will be showcased on the stage set up at the Mountainview High Rise, 550 Main Street. The schedule is as follows: Mike Peters and John Ortiz (Rock & Contemporary) will start the entertainment, and perform from 11:00 a.m. - 12 p.m. Next on stage will be The Purcell's from 12:30-1:30 p.m. and closing out Arts Fest will be The Forgotten Mountain Boys from 2-3 p.m. In additionBack for a second straight appearance at Arts Fest is Walnutport native Paul Martin reading poetry beginning at 12 p.m. at the Slatington Library located at 650 Main Street. Paul's poems have been published widely in journals such as Yankee, America's Review and Poetry East. He has also authored three chapbooks.Local Historian Christy Haydt will follow with a talk on "The History of Slatington" at 1:30 p.m. in front of the library.At 2 p.m. local antiques dealer and business owner of Charlotte's Web, Charlotte Schneck will present a lecture entitled "Today's Antiques" to be held in the Library. On display at the library will be a gingerbread house that Northern Lehigh Future Focus will be raffling off.The arts fest committee in cooperation with the Allen O. Delke Post #16, Slatington American Legion, will open up its War Memorabilia Display for tours from Noon - 3 p.m. The display includes uniforms and memorabilia from all branches of the U.S. Armed Services. The display is located in the basement of the Legion, located at 510 Main Street.There will also be a number of activities for children. From 12-4 p.m. face painting will be offered by the "Its Playtime" Playgroup of the Northern Lehigh Community Center. The face painting will be held by the NLCC booth in front of 636 Main Street. In addition, Al Grout, magician and juggler will perform on the music stage beginning at 12 p.m., and follow with a half hour strolling show beginning around 12:30 p.m. From 1-3 p.m. a gingerbread cookie decorating class will be held at 721 Main Street. Kids can decorate their very own gingerbread cookie. Finally, Carol Kistler will be strolling the grounds of Arts Fest from 3-4 p.m. making balloon sculptures.Northern Lehigh Future Focus will continue selling their series of wooden replica plaques. The newest replica depicts the Vigilant Fire Company's Firemen's Monument located in the Union Cemetery. The plaque produced in cooperation with the Vigilant Fire Company has been issued in conjunction with the monument's 100th anniversary, which was celebrated by the company on September 12, 2009. The other plaques in the series will also be available for purchase that day. In addition the history book entitled "Lehigh Water Gap, A Historic Past and A Link to The Future," by local Author William Leickel, and sold by NL Future Focus will also be available for sale. Also available for purchase is the photo book called "Slatington, Walnutport and Washington Township," which is part of the popular "Images of America" book series.Indoor restroom facilities are available at several locations throughout the two-block Arts Fest. Ample free parking is available in parking lots at the northern and southern end of the 500 and 600 blocks.The purpose of Arts Fest is to showcase local artists and their work, promote and encourage local business patronage in the Slatington business district and to give the local community an event to attend, where they can mingle with friends, as well as bring visitors into Slatington and to benefit the Northern Lehigh Future Focus's community projects.For further information on Arts Fest contact Bill Merkle at (610) 760-2488 or Robert Stettner at (610) 767-7626, or visit

www.futurefocusofnorthernlehigh.tripod.com