A local festival aims to celebrate the fabric of Orange County.
On Saturday, the Tapestry Festival will be held on Short Street in the Town of Orange. Organizer Alyssa Waller said the festival was born “out of a desire to bring people together and celebrate the mix of cultures, stories and creativity that make the community special.” It was created following a conversation with Waller and her friend, Brittney Alexander. The two brought Dani Rivera into the conversation for additional ideas on ways to create something positive for the community.
“We wanted to create something that highlights connection and belonging–a tapestry of who we are,” Waller said.
After losing some important people in her life, including Alexander, Waller created Cultivating Kommunity Connections, a small, grassroots business with the goal of fostering understanding, celebrating diversity and encouraging people to show up for one another whether through art, dialogue or service. Waller said the people she lost all cared about building community across differences.
The Tapestry Festival will be held Saturday, Oct. 11, 3-7 p.m. on Short Street.
“It’s a shared space where diversity, creativity and community pride comes together through local vendors, live music, art and food,” Waller said. “The aim is to celebrate the many cultures and stories that make Orange County so special.”
The family-friendly festival will include music from DJ Marvelous and Blackmarket with live performances including Dr. Dena Jennings and India Nixon, as well as students. Creative arts facilitator Jannine Jones and Orange VA Pride will lead attendees in the creation of a community weaving wall. Various vendors will be on-site with their food, wares and other goods and community resources will share information about their offerings. The festival will be held rain or shine.
“This is an event that reflects who we are–a welcoming, diverse and united Orange County,” Waller said.
The Tapestry Festival is the first event for Cultivating Kommunity Connections, but Waller plans to host more events in the future.
“I hope this is just the first of many ways to bring people together,” she said.
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1782534075696986/.
