Everybody knows you can find unique and unusual handmade gift items at the Plowshares Craftsfair. But that’s not all. You can also be royally entertained by dozens of the best musicians and singers in Central New York.
The 40th Annual Plowshares Craftsfair & Peace Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday Dec. 4, at Nottingham High School, 3100 E. Genesee St., and continues Sunday Dec. 5, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
While more than 120 local craftspeople and community organizations hawk their homemade wares, entertainers ranging from the Raging Grannies to Merry Mischief will sing, dance, perform skits and deliver all manner of holiday harmonies.
Music and Mischief
“It’s really great entertainment,” exclaims Andy Mager from the Syracuse Peace Council, which hosts the long-running crafts show. “And we have food from The Mission and the friendliest crowd in town. This is SPC’s largest fundraiser of the year.”
Mager’s not just whistling Dixie. When he says “great entertainment,” he’s not kidding.
There’s the Syracuse Community Choir led by Karen Mihalyi singing songs of social justice at 1 p.m. Saturday followed at 2 p.m. by One Black Voice vocalizing music from the African-American experience.
Then, at 3 p.m. the lovely and talented Colleen Kattau and Some Guys will perform songs that run the spectrum from feminist folk to Latin American anthems.
Other Plowshares performers will be the roving Ribonsteel Rapper Saturday and Nottingham World Drummers at 4 p.m. On Sunday shoppers will hear Savannah Juvanis, Harmonia, My Fusion Flow, Merry Mischief and Mark Zane.
For festival info and a full entertainment schedule, visit theeaglecny.com
‘Winter Solstice Waltz’
Perhaps the Plowshares’ most holiday-oriented act will be Dan Duggan and Peggy Lynn. The hammered dulcimer husband and guitarist wife will play tunes from their new Christmas disc, “Be The Light.” Dan’s shimmering dulcimer work instantly conjures images of falling snowflakes and twinkling stars. Peggy’s expressive voice adds warmth and emotion to the music.
The couple has plenty to celebrate this Christmas season as Dan continues his amazing recovery from neck cancer. “Be The Light” indeed!
Tracks on the duo’s new CD include Peggy’s “Giving Thanks” and Dan’s “Winter Solstice Waltz” and “Off to Bethlehem.” Together the husband-and-wife duo wrote “If Jesus Were Born Today.”
At Plowshares, Duggan and Lynn will be selling copies of many of their CDs including “Keeping Christmas” from 2002.
The following weekend, at 7 p.m., Dec. 11, Dan and Peggy will perform at Robinson Memorial Presbyterian Church, 126 South Terry Road in Westvale, and at 7:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve they’ll be at the First Universalist Unitarian Society on Waring Road.
For duo info, visit esperanceproductions.com.
Entertainment schedule
Saturday Dec. 4
11 am: Raging Grannies
1 pm: Syracuse Community Choir
2 pm: One Black Voice
3 pm: Colleen and Some Guys
4 pm: Nottingham World
Drummers
Sunday Dec. 5
11:30 am: Savannah Juvanis
12:30 pm: Harmonia
1 pm: My Fusion Flow
2 pm: Merry Mischief
3 pm: Mark Zane
