THE FOLLOWING IS A NEWS-GAZETTE STORY BY JENNIFER BAILEY
DANVILLE — Arts in the Park Board President Heather Runyan would get stopped around the city, such as at Rawhide Meat Co. and other places, by people who would love to attend the annual arts festival, but they work until 5 p.m. when the two-day festival ends each day.
Runyan approached the 15-member board about extending the festival’s hours on Saturday, and it was met with enthusiasm to increase stage performances and attract more people.
Admission is free to Arts in the Park. It is rain or shine and runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. The Danville Municipal Band also plays Sunday night.
Runyan, who’s from Danville, is a legal assistant at Christoff Law Office and bartender at Fatman’s Warehouse.
She’s been on the Arts in the Park board since 2019.
“I was just looking for something to be more involved in our community,” Runyan said. She reached out to friend Amy Thompson, who was on the board. Runyan got connected and was voted to be on the board.
“What better than an actual event that we get to have, and it’s free for the community to attend,” she said. “And it also instills art education into the kids, where that’s where everything really starts, is the children.”
Runyan said they have so many artist vendors come from all over, including even Florida, for the event and to display their beautiful craft, which she loves.
She also likes the food vendors. They have nine food truck vendors this year.
The sidewalk chalk contests also are popular with age categories from preschool to adults in the morning and afternoon.
“Some of the artwork that they just come up with, I am just blown away,” Runyan said of the chalk art. “They make it 3-D in chalk. It’s a thing. I can’t do it. I’m a stick-figure kind of gal.”
Runyan’s daughter, 9-year-old Paisley Wolfe, said she won in her age category last year. She drew herself in a spaceship with a bunch of domes underneath and a lot of aliens.
For the stage entertainment this year, Runyan said the board had some stage auditions. There will be returning favorites, like the Sweet Adelines, and a lot of new talent. The Danville Barbershop Chorus is sitting out this year, but the board hopes to have them back next year, Runyan said.
“It will be a fun weekend. We pray for no rain,” Runyan said.
Rick Decorie of Cissna Park brings his photography to sell at the event.
“I’ve been doing shows for six years and taking photos for most of my life,” the 68-year-old said.
He’s been more serious about his photography for about the last 10 years.
Decorie takes photos of “a lot of old and unique things.” The older and more unique, the better, he said.
He said he photographs the details of items that people often overlook.
“Like an old farm machine (and) into a part people don’t really see, and old cars …,” Decorie said.
He’ll focus on a taillight or the motor or some other car detail.
He loves driving around and seeking out cool photos.
“It gives me a chance to be outside, and it keeps me active. I also meet all kinds of people,” he said.
Decorie said he enjoys attending Arts in the Park because it’s close to home, and he used to live in Danville and knows a lot of people still.
Runyan encourages people to support the artists and event, and if anyone still would like to volunteer, seek out the hospitality tent and they will sign you in and send you to an area.
“We can never have too many volunteers,” she said, adding that it takes a lot of people to make the event happen.
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