Support the arts, Celebrate Hampstead

The third annual Celebrate Hampstead Festival will be coming to the Hampstead Village Grounds on May 10. The festival will be a fun day of food, art, performances and prizes. The event also doubles as a fundraiser for the Music, Art, and Drama departments of four area schools.

The day begins at 9:45 a.m. with music from the schools that are benefiting from the festival. The Topsail High School Jazz Band, Choir and Drum Corp will all be displaying their skills, as will the North Topsail Elementary Music Class and the Topsail Middle School Band.

Following the music, the Topsail High Drama Department will also be performing, not one, but four different plays starting at 11:05 a.m.

Students from art classes at North Topsail and South Topsail Elementary Schools will also find out who wins a poster contest at 11:45. The posters, made during art classes, will be judged upon the theme of "What Hampstead Means To Me." There will be first, second, and third place winners from each school. The first place winners will receive $50, while second place brings in $25, and $10 for third. All six winners will also receive a complimentary framing of their work.

The Wilmington Big Band will take the stage at 1 p.m. to show Hampstead why they are always a big draw wherever they perform. There will also be a variety of tap shows, belly dancing, modern jazz, and various other art forms displayed on Saturday.

Singer and songwriter Steve Toll will be returning to Pender County again with his guitar and vocals, as will musician Russ James.

Those interested in watching an athletic demonstration from a sport they may have never seen before (that involves swords!), will be pleased to see the one-hour exhibition from Cape Fear Fencing.

The art of the baton will command the stage in the afternoon when the Thunder Majorettes, straight from the North Carolina State Competition, return to wow the hometown crowd with their twirling skills.

All taste buds will be happy to see how much different food will be at the festival. Gyros, seafood, hot dogs, waffle cones and ice cream will all be for sale from local vendors throughout the day.

Arts and crafts vendors will line the streets of the festival, with many of them donating proceeds back to the schools.

A $5 donation entitles the children to an entire day of unlimited rides on all of the recreational devices being brought in for the festival (think jumping and bouncing). There will also be a llama rides for the children.

The Hampstead Fire Department will also be in attendance honking their horns and showing off their high-tech equipment.

Adults will also be supplied with amusement catered for them. Cool Cars of Hampstead will be revving the engines of their unique rides throughout the day.

Professional auctioneer Michael Barber will be coming in from Acadia to give out top-notch prizes to the highest bidders. Items to be auctioned include a gym membership, a grill, an electric guitar and an authentic Super Bowl playbook.

Celebrate Hampstead Festival co-chair Sherrie Bowen, along with Karen O'Reilly, also wanted to thank the Greater Hampstead Chamber of Commerce for their partnership in the festival.

"Without the Chamber, this event wouldn't be possible. They cover the liability and are very supportive. We also want to thank area businesses and the non-profits. It has taken many months from many dedicated volunteers who put a lot of work toward this day. We really look forward to it," said Bowen.

The Celebrate Hampstead Festival raised $1200 the first year and $1900 last year. With all the entertainment, talent and fun that will take place Saturday - local music, art and drama - teachers should be receiving even bigger checks for to take care of their classes thanks to the people who celebrate Hampstead.