Shop for Original Artwork at Our Artisan Marketplace!
WaterFire Sharon prides itself on striving to bring professional art market vendors and high-quality works of art to our marketplace. Our talented artisans are creatives who make amazing handmade fine art. Whether it is 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.
This Saturday you’ll find artisan tents full of beautiful, 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. Tom and Tina Bowersox from Meadville, PA, craft stunning wire-wrapped jewelry and vibrant suncatchers that capture light and imagination, blending intricate artistry with a touch of whimsy in every piece. Also, look for Phil Thomas, an artist based in Youngstown, OH, who brings a burst of life and color to everyday scenes with his vibrant still life, floral, and food paintings. Working primarily with acrylics, Phil captures the beauty of the ordinary, transforming it into extraordinary pieces of art. His creativity extends beyond the canvas with art prints and stickers, making his joyful and dynamic designs accessible to everyone.
Need a food break? Stop by our Food Court! 2-10pm
Stop by the food court to enjoy a variety of delicious treats. You will know you are headed in the right direction as you pick up the aromas of ribs on the BBQ! There will surely be a sweet smell of cinnamon rolls and funnel cakes. You can cool off with a milkshake! So much savory, so much sweet – you can’t go wrong with a visit to the food court. Just a few of the delicious food options: pulled pork, mac & cheese, hot sausage, philly cheese steak, fries, gyros, nachos, corn dogs and so much more!! Have lunch, dinner or take a snack to take home from the WaterFire food court.
Unleash Your Imagination at the PNC Bank Children’s Fun Zone!
Get ready for a blast at the PNC Bank Children’s Fun Zone at WaterFire, located at the corner of State St and Shenango St, where kids can unleash their creativity and have a great time. Imagine making colorful sand art, painting cool stones, designing funky necklaces, and crafting a tote bag to carry all your amazing creations home! Plus, the award-winning Robotics team from Sharon Area School District will be there, showcasing their impressive robots and sharing their secrets. Parents, be sure to stick around as your little ones dive into a day filled with creativity, excitement, and pure joy!
River Festivities
Our evening will begin with the Native American Blessing of the Shenango River by Leon Briggs followed by the lighting of the WaterFire Sharon PA orb along with 55 floating bonfires filled with pine on the river between Connelly Blvd. and E. Silver St. Enjoy the aroma, live entertainment and music on the river until 10pm. Be sure to bring a chair and stay awhile!
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. Leon 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. 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.
Jimmy Pyro:
Jimmy Pyro has always been drawn to the power and sound of fire, which he uses to captivate his audience with explosive and dramatic performances. Jimmy is a born thrill seeker and a natural entertainer. He is completely self-taught and enjoys learning new skills and adding new and exciting stunts to his repertoire. Jimmy Pyro has been professionally performing for 10 years and has entertained over 270,000 people. He will leave you talking for years to come and a memory you will never forget. Jimmy Pyro will perform several times throughout the evening. Watch for Jimmy on a boat on the river, the bridge abutment and on the State St. bridge.
Discover all the Public Art Installations in Downtown Sharon
Look for the newest addition to public art in downtown Sharon. Artist Royce Umberger is adding his mark on the Evolve building in “Musician’s Alley.” Also, walk down Central Way, located off Vine Ave., this artsy walkway is fondly called “Sam’s Alley” as tribute to Artist Sam Perry and his belief in and dedication to this project. Another must see is the amazing Joel Bergner Hope CAT mural located on West State St. and the Labyrinth on the pavement in front of the mural. See other art installations created in Sharon that include the “Choose to Fly” silhouette mural, across from the Sharon Municipal Building on W. Connelly Blvd, the “Flower Garden Gallery” located on W. Connelly Blvd., the “Literary Garden” at the Community Library of the Shenango Valley, the “Doors to the Past” and “Column Monument” located on West State Street beside George Junior Republic sculpture “It’s a Wonderful World”, and the “Willow Way”, the “Gallery Garden” and five Ash tree carvings, located in the Riverview Gardens Park… and more to discover. Find them all and tag #waterfiresharon2024 along the way!
We want to hear from you!
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.
Be a Part of the Spark!
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 coordinators at (440)812-7339 and they will be happy to fill you in on all the opportunities available to be a part of WaterFire.
