By James B. Bartle
The streets of downtown Sullivan and the grounds of the Harney Mansion were packed with hundreds of people that attended the second annual Sullivan Fire Arts Festival.
The event, held by the Sullivan Chamber of Commerce, brought the arts of Sullivan to the forefront with local authors, painters, artists, performers and others together for a daylong celebration.
The event featured many art booths from authors, Donna Villani, Ron Woodland, Viva Lou Carey, Pam Barnes and Ted Logan, and many artists on display including Jean M. Smith, Paul Thacker, Ginny Blankenship, Jane Ann Emig, Deborah Waggoner, Lora Dickerson, Randy Tyree, Lisa Wegescheide and Juanita Schuler.
Ted Logan, local author of “My Friends Call Me Skinny,” commented on KTUI Radio Saturday morning during the event, “This is a real honor to be out here with all of these artists and authors. This is a great event and a pleasure for me to be a part of it.”
While guests strolled up and down main street Saturday, they were also entertained by Kay’s Music Band, Sullivan Brass Band and local band, Alderwood.
Food was also served downtown by HALO for Animals, Word of Life Worship Center, Heintz Processing and Missouri Wildfire Softball.
While events were going on downtown, visitors strolled down Main Street to the Harney Mansion where tours of the new renovations of the mansion were given along with a pie contest and performances by the Sullivan High School Show Choir and Kathy Summers Bluegrass Band.
Debbe Campbell, chamber director, stated, “I thought we had a beautiful day and we received some good comments from everybody. We strived to give everyone a chance to show their talents and we did that. I feel we just had a great day.”