Click here to view the printable 2-page event brochure.
Each WaterFire is created to be different. There may be some favorite art and food vendors who faithfully return, but there are always new ones in the mix too! Two ways we strive to showcase the theme is in entertainment and in the choice for Orb Lighters. This theme has been a lot of fun to work with, as it gave us great options for both! When you think “Hands Across the Water” your imaginations most likely hear the song made famous by Paul and Linda McCartney “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey”! So imagine the fun WaterFire has had arranging for music with the British Invasion in mind! You’re going to hear some great songs from Beatle Tribute bands and more. You may even find yourself in some interaction along the river with some popular music! Our orb lighters stretch their hands out in other ways – with help and compassion. As you read about them in their bio’s you’ll see how each of them has made a significant impact on the region, the arts, the community, and all the individual lives they touch. We are so thankful to have them both in our community. So, enjoy the evening! Its been planned just for you!
Stay Awhile…
Did you know that we have a whole evening of entertainment planned for you? Once the lighting ceremony occurs, there is plenty of entertainment to follow! You’ll be able to see an aerialist perform on beautiful silks against the evening sky and a world-renowned fire twirler amaze his viewers from many spots on the river. Diana, the aerialist is visiting us from Las Vegas while Jimmy Pryo, the famous fire twirler is visiting us from Atlanta . WaterFire welcomes back Dan and Brianna, and “Two Guitars” to perform from the river for your listening enjoyment! Watch for them to make appearances between 8 and 11 pm. You’re bound to see a few amazing surprises on the river too! These surprises will definitely light up the river!
Our Artist Marketplace is Growing and Looking for Talent in 2019
WaterFire prides itself on striving to bring professional vendors and high-quality works of art to our marketplace. Our talented artisans are natural creatives who make amazing handmade fine art. Whether its a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry, pottery, woodworking, glass or fiber art, painting, photography, or mixed media piece – we have it all, in all price ranges – we know you will find the perfect item while walking the streets of beautiful downtown Sharon during WaterFire.
This Saturday you’ll find artisan tents full of beautiful and unique items. Talk to the artists to learn more about their processes, watch their live demonstrations and support our artists by selecting a handmade original piece to add to your home or give as a gift. Look for Susan Crisan of Sandpiper Soap Company, based in Hermitage, she makes soaps completely handcrafted with the purest, finest oils and other natural ingredients for the ultimate luxury soap. And you will love the beautiful designs of artistically and creatively grown succulents by the Succulent Ladies of Berlin Center, Ohio.
Want to sell your handmade art items at WF in 2019? Applications will open in early October at Zapp online: https://www.zapplication.org/event-info.php?ID=5271 . Contact Jenn at jenncrisan@gmail.com or artistinfo@waterfiresharonpa.org with any feedback or questions. We are looking forward to a great selling season in the artisan marketplace!
Apply on the Zapp App link on our website. Booth Size: 10′ x 10′
Booth Fee:
One Event = $70
Two Events = $110
Apply for 2019!
A Foodie you say? Have we got the goodies for you!
Make sure you visit the food court at WaterFire this Saturday. You’ll be sure you’re in the right direction as you pick up the aromas of ribs on the bbq, or is that lamb from the gyros we smell? There will surely be a sweet smell of funnel cakes and check out the homemade ice cream! You can stay cool with a milkshake. So much savory, so much sweet – you can’t go wrong with a visit to the food court. Dozens of vendors are setting up just to take care of you so don’t miss out on stopping by! While you’re there – check out the specialty items at the Chocolate Gyro trailer! Just a few of the delicious food options: pulled pork, mac & cheese, fried catfish dinners, burgers, pizza, stromboli, hot sausage, meatball sandwiches, homemade cavatelli, and new to this event St. George Serbian Orthodox Church serving Serbian cevap meals. See, there’s really something there for everyone! Have lunch, supper, a snack or pick up a treat for the way home at the WaterFire food court!
Artists and food vendors will be open at 2pm until 11 pm. Shop and enjoy the tastes of our festival throughout the day and evening. Stop by our Food Court, located in the parking lot off Chestnut St, to enjoy cheese steaks, gyros, BBQ ribs, cavatelli, burgers, and pizza, along with a large variety of sweet treats. Indulge yourself in some delicious foods while waiting for the braziers to light at dusk.
More than sixty-five artisans and non-profit organizations will cover the downtown streets from the intersection of E. State and Dock St. through W. State Street and Water St. We have craft vendors, fine artists, jewelry makers, and more–a little of something for everybody! Be sure to stop in every tent: you never know what you’ll find.
Click image to read about our orb lighters
Calling all kids: Visit our new, expanded Children’s Fun Zone sponsored by The Cafaro Foundation and Eastwood Mall Complex!
Have we got some fun planned for you! The Children’s Fun Zone will be presented by the “Cafaro Foundation” and the “Eastwood Mall Complex” this year – Special Thanks to them for providing the entertainment for our younger guests! Remember that we moved the children’s area this year – look for the Fun Zone on West State Street, right past North Water Avenue, near Reyers Shoe Store. You’ll easily spot it by the bouncy house that will be waiting for you! In addition to the bouncy house, there will be plenty of activities, including making bird feeders from ice cream cones, crafts, bubbles, games, music and more! Get into the fall spirit by painting your very own pumpkin to take home. There will be kinetic sand and the Sharon Robotics Team will be onsite to demonstrate what they’re doing with the robots they built! These students are from the immediate area and happy to show you what the world of Robotics can open up to all of us! Sharon Regional Medical Center will be at the Children’s Area too, to teach us safety, and first aid tips – we all need to know that and what a great way to learn it, when it’s just for us kids! They want us to be safe and know what to do in emergencies – Thank You Sharon Regional! The Children’s Fun Zone will be open from 3pm – 7pm. Bring your family and we’ll see you there!
click image to enlarge
Magic on the River
Keep an eye on the river for musical performances. The river festivities will begin at dusk with a Native American Blessing of the river by Leon Briggs. Leon Sam Briggs, is an enrolled Tonawanda Seneca whose native name is H oya’degay hus, “he helps always” hawk clan. In 2004, he was ordained as a spiritual leader of the American Metis Aboriginal Association. He works in traditional Arts of beading, quill and leather work. He speaks on his traditional teachings in herbology, (focused native uses of plants), and works as a cultural consulting. He has made annual trips to Little Eagle, South Dakota to meet with the community and government leaders as a cultural lea son, participate in events and ceremonies, such as Peace Place powwow to support local efforts to start building the Little Eagle Community Center. He has participated as guest speaker on Native American culture, storyteller, environmental impact on indigenous plants at various events including Native American Awareness Week at the University of Dayton, and Sunwatch Village, since 2007. Making Relations another gathering of communities for the exchange of cultures (Little Eagle and Eagle Butte, South Dakota, since 2009) and Native Peoples Celebrate the Peacemakers, University of Dayton. He is a consultant/ speaker with the Red Bird Center whose mission is to support the Healing and Unity of Native Families in Ohio. The Center specializes in assisting families in recovery from trauma and loss. Leon is a presenter at the Red Bird Center’s Annual Native Unity Gathering which focuses on the “Indigenous Healing Model” that restores the spirit and brings unity and connection within Native Communities. The Red Bird Center has been in operation since 1997 and is a Native non-profit organization.
Keep an eye on the river for fire performers who will perform several times throughout the evening. Watch for them on a boat on the river and the bridge abutment. They will captivate our audience with explosive and dramatic performances. They will leave you talking for years to come and a memory you will never forget.
Musical entertainment will be featured on the boats throughout the evening.
Visit the Community Library of the Shenango Valley during Waterfire – Henry Ekker Autograph Collection
Enjoy sports? Admire athletes and their accomplishments? Then you won’t want to miss this one of a kind collection. Inside the library you’ll find a large, autographed, and unique sports memorabilia collection on display from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is no charge to visit this collection that you’ll find on the library’s first floor. Also, located at the Community Library is The Literary Garden. Members of Random Acts of Artists (RAA) installed this garden to help bring awareness to the importance of literature and the arts in our community. Each of the over 40 posts are painted to represent a book or piece of literature theme of the artist’s choice. Be sure to visit this inspirational garden.
Tag Up!
Take selfies and be sure to check in on social media while you enjoy your day and evening at WaterFire Sharon. A check-in on social helps our downtown merchants with visibility and draws more attention to their key presence in the growing vibrancy along the river! Share what you see and enjoy your day in beautiful downtown Sharon. Use our hashtags when you share your fun photos and selfies on social! Hashtag so we can see all the memories you make at ! And we might collect a few of our favorites to share on our social profiles! http://www.waterfiresharonpa.org
Art Hotspots Downtown!
click image to open and download printable pdf
(2-pages, front & back)
As you stroll through downtown Sharon this 2018 WaterFire Sharon season, be sure to look for the many art spaces that are growing along the river! Here are some art points of interest to seek out.
The vibrant mural on the Community Action building, was the first large scale mural work in Sharon by Leslie Michaels and friends. There is also a fun Sharon, Pa. mural near the Laskey’s building on N. Water Ave, facing State Street. And of course, admire beautiful downtown Sharon’s newest large scale art addition to downtown Sharon! Located W. State St. Reyer’s building- Mural by Joel Bergner, students from HOPE C.A.T and local artists contributors.
Look to the corner of S. Water Ave & State St.- “It’s a Wonderful World” Sculpture art of trumpet player- George Junior Republic and Sharon HS students.
The “Can Opener,” or “Angel” the oldest sculpture art installation in Sharon at S. Water Ave & Connelly Blvd. It is made on Cor-ten Steel that when it rusts forms a protective coating. Same steel that was used on the Oakland Viaduct. It weighs 10 ton and actually is in need of some repair. The artist intended the structure to rust into a bed of slag. The slag has since been removed for flowers. It is located in George Warren Memorial Park/Garden on Water Ave.
The “Random Acts of Artists” have been essential to creating new art spaces downtown:
River Gardens Park- “Garden Gallery” colorful art installation – RAA artists
River Gardens Park- “Willow Way” living willow archway- Carol Novosel & RAA artists
River Garden Park – 5 wood cravings created by chainsaw artist Michael Long.
Flower Garden Gallery – 40 paintings created by RAA artists located on W. Connelly St.
Community Library of the Shenango Valley- “Literary Garden” colorful art installation with literary theme- RAA artists
Located the alley across from Vine St., is the home “Random Interface” 26 large portraits line the alley- RAA artists
Corner of S. Water Ave & State St.- “Indian Drum” Improvised mixed media drum assemblage- Stella Shine & RAA artists
Corner of S. Water Ave & State St.- “Dueling Piano’s” Improvised mixed media and wind chime assemblage- Terry Polonsky & RAA artists
Seen enough? Ready to get involved?
Have you seen enough to make you want to join in? We welcome new volunteers! Come alone, in a group, whatever works for you! Whether you want to help in the preparation and planning, help set up vendors, work at the information center, tend to the braziers during the evening, or a variety of other areas to lend a hand, WaterFire Sharon would be happy to have you join in. Our volunteers are known to say things like “I met so many new people and made so many new friends” and “It’s fun to be a part of something so big!” and of course “I’m always proud to see so many people come to our area and witness what we have going on here.” Maybe you’ll feel just that same way after experiencing WaterFire as a volunteer. Sign up for the next WaterFire event at the Souvenir and Information center located at the corner of West State Street and S. Water Avenue – in front of the food court. Ask questions and see what you may enjoy the most! If you can’t visit the booth, call our volunteer coordinator at (724) 301-1868 and Janet will be happy to fill you in on all the opportunities available to be a part of WaterFire.
Keep the fires burning!
Want to see WaterFire continue? We do, too! Please consider supporting this great event financially. Every dollar counts to make each lighting one that is safe, enjoyable, and a great mark on our entire area. A boost to tourism and business, WaterFire is also part of the celebration of the arts in the region. As part of the Community Foundation, your contribution is tax deductible. To make a donation, you can visit the Souvenir station during the event. Please help us keep the fires burning! Any donation to WaterFire Sharon is appreciated! We simply cannot do it without our generous sponsors. Won’t you consider a sponsorship, big or small today? All financial contributions to WaterFire Sharon are 100% tax deductible.
To make a tax deductible contribution: WaterFire Sharon, 7 West State Street, Suite 301, Sharon PA 16146 | (724) 981-5882 x111 | info@waterfiresharonpa.org
