picture by: Joselyn King
Jessica Shreve, left, proprietor of Jessie Lee Chainsaw Art in Valley Grove, and her husband Colton Shreve present their wares at “Christmas At The Highlands,” which came about Friday by way of Sunday at The Highlands Sports Complex.
TRIADELPHIA — There have been plenty of meals gadgets, steel and wooden carvings and glossy issues at “Christmas At The Highlands” this 12 months — and this attracted many from all through the area to The Highlands Sports Complex over the weekend.
There have been 250 areas rented out by distributors, who got here from as far-off as Alabama and New York.
Kevin Carroll, proprietor of A Touch Of Amish and organizer of “Christmas At The Highlands,” reported that after the craft present opened Friday night time greater than 2,000 individuals got here by way of the venue.
On Saturday, he mentioned the present was on tempo to have one other 4,000 guests. Visitors on Sunday added to the 6,000 complete and total attendance was anticipated to exceed 8,000.
“I am hearing from people traveling from up to two hours away,” he mentioned. “It has drawn a lot of people to the area, which economy-wise is great. They’re eating up here. The vendors are staying in hotels, and there are 12 different states represented here by vendors.”
The price of admission was $3 for adults, and cash raised benefited the Wayne Wilhelm Memorial Scholarship fund — which supplies scholarships for profession and technical college students at Wheeling Park High School. Wilhelm was the father of Carroll’s spouse, Anne Carroll.
Vendor Jessica Shreve, proprietor of Jessie Lee Chainsaw Art in Valley Grove, defined how she first got here to select up a chainsaw and begin a brand new curiosity.
She had been trying to find a big eagle wall hanging substantial sufficient to indicate presence when hanging in a VFW or American Legion corridor.
Shreve discovered an image of 1 she needed, however no native woodcarvers have been in taking up the undertaking.
That’s when Shreve picked up the chainsaw.
“I knew we wanted it big enough to hang in a banquet hall, and I thought I could probably carve it myself,” she mentioned. “My mother informed me I couldn’t, and that I might reduce my fingers off. My dad informed me I might strive, however not together with his massive noticed. I needed to go borrow my uncle’s littler one.
“I did it, and it turned out fantastic. That was about seven years ago, and I haven’t put down a chainsaw since.”
Shreve famous she had by no means used a chainsaw earlier than the expertise, or proven any creative capability.
“I am a really horrible drawer,” she mentioned. “But there’s one thing about three-dimensional … I do effectively at making artwork in three dimensions. I carve very effectively, and that’s the solely means I discover myself to be very creative.
“I think if I’m painting or drawing I will keep erasing or redrawing. I’m never content with it. I can’t do that with chainsaw carving or I would have a big pile of saw dust.”
Retired instructor and former Ohio County Board of Education member Pete Chacalos — additionally a photographer, historian and creator — is an annual fixture at “Christmas At The Highlands.” He mentioned he sells sufficient to be worthwhile, however that isn’t actually why he brings his images and books to craft reveals.
“The thing I like more than anything is just talking to people,” he mentioned. “They look at my books, and we talk about that. Simply talking to people is what it’s about.”