HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — “Let’s Celebrate,” a party and preview in honor of our regional artisans will be held on Thursday, March 3 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Visitors Center at Heritage Station located at 210 11th St.

The reception will be hosted by The Cabell-Huntington Convention & Visitors Bureau and The Red Caboose Regional Artisan Center.

This exciting celebration will feature displays, music, food and demonstrations by local artisans, whose work is sold at The Red Caboose Regional Artisan Center, located at the Visitors Center at Heritage Station. Classical guitarist Alexandre Lopes will perform, as well as the Southside Elementary Dolce Children’s Choir, directed by Julianne Coffman. The Children’s Choir will perform selections from “We Make Music” from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

“We are excited to have the opportunity to showcase our regional artisans who are featured in The Red Caboose Regional Artisan Center. The craftsmanship is excellent, and our center provides a unique shopping experience for visitors and local residents as well,” says Tyson Compton, President of the Cabell-Huntington Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Displays and demonstrations throughout the weekend will include:

• LeonaArt – March 3-5- Leona Mackey’s Unique Glass Art collection will include colorful jewelry pieces and amazing wall hangings made with dichroic glass. Leona will also feature her latest photography and paintings inspired by Guyan Creek, entitled “Creek Underwater.”

• WV Quilt Display with Michelle Hill- March 3-5- Monterey Medallion, Moe’s Basket and Tumbling Block will be featured in this display of locally made quilts. Flower Power, a quilt made using Michelle’s unique invention, Chenille Sew Easy will also be on display. Chenille Sew Easy will be available for sale, as well as Michelle’s chocolate covered cherries.

• Turning a Block of Wood into a Beautiful Bowl; The Art of Woodturning with Ervin Jones- March 4, 1 to 3 p.m. – Using West Virginia native hardwood, a woodturning lathe and various turning tools, Jones will demonstrate how to turn a block of wood into a beautiful and useable bowl. Jones is a juried artist at Tamarack and a member of the Mountaineer Woodturners Club.

• Gourds That Tell a Story with Janice Noah – March 4, 1 to 3 p.m. – Noah will be decorating story gourds using wood burning tools. Noah uses gourds that she has grown in her own garden, which range in size from very small to large.

• Wet on Wet, Step by Step: Watercolor with Barbara Delligatti- March 5, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Delligatti will demonstrate how to portray mood and light using the unique watercolor style of wet on wet. Delligatti is a juried artist at Tamarack and involved with the Tri-State Arts Association.

• Needle Felted Wool Flowers with Ann Grimes- March 5, 1 to 3 p.m. – Grimes will use a very sharp barbed felting took, dyed sheep wool and felt fabric to create wool flowers. Grimes uses recycled wool sweaters and skirts to make artwork that can be brooches, or sewn onto jackets or purses. Grimes has served as an art educator for more than thirty various WV counties.

In addition to local artisans, visitors will also be greeted by the aromas of fresh breads and pastries at the newly opened River and Rail Bakery.

The recently opened bakery will offer a variety of breads, pastries, croissants and coffees and will be open Monday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. inside the Visitors Center.

The Red Caboose Regional Artisan Center is owned and operated by the Cabell-Huntington Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The shop, located in the Visitors Center at Heritage Station, features creative, and often one-of-a-kind, products hand-crafted by our region’s artisans.

Give a piece of West Virginia to your family, friends and clients For more information, please call 304-525-7333, or visit www.wvvisit.org.