Eastern Shore Community College is excited to present the 17th Annual Heritage Celebration on Saturday, February 24th from 10:00am-3:00pm, encompassing both the Workforce Development Center, and the main building on our campus in Melfa.

This free event again offers a wide and diverse selection of exhibitors and participants, representative of the Eastern Shore community and its many talents and interests.  Woodworking and carving will be represented, as will glasswork, fiber, paper, metalwork, sculpture, handmade jewelry, and of course painting in multiple mediums, and much more.

Some of the talented artists will be doing demonstrations this year in addition to showing their creations.  The festival continues to be an enjoyable mix of established Eastern Shore talents and exciting newcomers across various mediums.  Blending with the creative aspect of the festival is the wealth of local organizations that will be promoting their interests and resources. From nature, beekeeping, and agriculture, to local history and helpful agencies sharing information, the Heritage Celebration melds a broad variety of subject matter.

Children’s activities, food, and music are also a big part of the day.  Families will enjoy stopping by the student lounge with New Roots Youth Garden from Cape Charles providing fun activities and information about their group.  Alicia Maddox from Messongo Creek’s Farm will have farm animals to meet and pet as well.  When everyone is ready for some delicious food, our Heritage Café is a popular destination in the Great Hall of the Workforce Development Building. The ESCC Phi-Theta-Kappa will be serving delicious homemade chili, biscuits, nachos supreme, hot dogs, baked goods, beverages and more.

The Heritage Café stage will feature live musical talent courtesy of the ESO Arts Center in Belle Haven.  Continuous music throughout the day will include Roland Major and The Morris Singers, The Chair Place Pickers, Lovey Durrua, Amy Bettit, and McKay Shockley.  This musical treat will spill over into our main building as well between 11:00am and 2:00pm with Mark Jensen, Lucas Antunes, and McKay Shockley performing as “strolling musicians”.

Heritage Celebration visitors will also have the chance to win impressive prize assortments, stocked by artists, crafters, and exhibitors.  Entries into the random drawings are gained by participating in the Heritage Sampler Scavenger Hunt.  By following simple clues and collecting a few details throughout the event, individuals will be eligible for several random drawings. Prize groupings will be visible to visitors as they pass by our business offices in the main building. Entries can be picked up and dropped off at the welcome table located at the entrance of the Workforce building.

With the support of the Eastern Shore Community College Foundation, ESCC is proud to offer this event free to the public, and encourages everyone to plan to attend and enjoy the wide variety of Eastern Shore offerings in an endless number of categories.

Karen Pruitt and Guy Shover are two popular Eastern Shore artists that will be featured at this year’s Heritage Celebration.