Events: Spring Into Spring Daze 2012!

Story by Lindsey Chester. Photos by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC- Environmental Art gets life size at Cary’s 19th annual Spring Daze Festival in Bond Park Sat. April 28th from 9 am-5 pm. Environmental sculptor Michael Roy Layne is putting the finishing touches on his “Stoneleaf and Fairy Circle” installation down at the boat house which debuts at the opening of the festival with a lakeside procession.

Stoneleaf and Fairy Circle

The sculpture includes several larger than life fabric mushrooms and smooth rocks that festival goers may help install. Most of the sculpture will remain permanently at the Boat House area, the fabric pieces may be brought out as colorful additions for special events. Layne works with areas that pose an environmental concern (here: drainage and run-off) and creates art that assists in solving the problem, while also enhancing the surroundings.

Earth Day Celebration

Spring Daze traditionally occurs at Bond Park and the outdoor theme ties in with the Town’s annual celebration of Earth Day (which this year occurred the week prior). Environmental themes will be seen throughout the event. In the Story Teller area at Buehler Shelter, hear all about composting.

Hop aboard the Town’s hybrid trash truck. Check out the WakeMed Cary Fitness Trail and get your fitness passport stamped.

Vote for your favorite Heart Healthy concessionaire. Food trucks serving up the healthiest fare will be awarded 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize ceramic pieces made by Cary Art Center’s Ceramicist Andi Dees.

Art of Course!

There will be over 180 artist booths to visit throughout the park. The Children’s Village returns again to the Lazy Daze Playground area at the center of the park. Many fun child friendly activities are planned including make and take “Bond Park Fish”, “Spring Daze Kites” and contact paper mosaics. Volunteers will help children with their creations which are free to the public.

The Artist Demonstration area has enlarged this year and includes the Cary Clay Cooperative, Fine Arts League of Cary and the Gifted Hands of Cary Embroiderers Guild. The Cary Jaycees will be announcing the winners of their annual photo contest over by the Boat House.

For the map of all things Spring Daze click here

Ride For Free

Worried about parking? With tight quarters and plenty of visitors parking and maneuvering your car can get tricky in Bond Park. The Town is operating C-Tran on a normal schedule – riders to the festival can ride for free. There is also a FREE shuttle that leaves from Downtown Cary (at 101 Wilkenson Avenue beside Town Hall) to take festival goers straight to Bond Park. Shuttles will run every 15-20 minutes between 8:30am- 5:30pm

OR Walk: With the new Greenway connectors linking up the Black Creek Greenway and White Oak Creek Greenway many subdivision dwellers can make it to the park without driving their cars, or even walking on a street. I’m spoiled, I live in a subdivision that backs onto the White Oak Greenway. For years I have biked or walked to the Spring Daze Festival.

We’ll Be There Too

Look for Hal Goodtree (CaryCitizen Publisher) and his band, A Fifth of Blues at the stage near the ballfields. They play twice, first at 10:15 am and again around 1:00 pm. He may need a cold drink! Stop by and say “Hey.”

I will be over in Cultural Arts Row with the Non-Profit groups early from 8-10am passing our info about the upcoming Downtown Cary Children’s Museum that we’d like to see built. Stop by and grab some info, or make a donation if you can!

See you at Spring Daze!

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Community coverage on CaryCitizen is sponsored in part by Studio 180 Salon in Downtown Cary.