Nov 23, 2003 By Steve Ferris 2 min read

The Uniontown Downtown Business District Authority is continuing its plans to organize an arts festival next year and recently reviewed a map that shows where artists might set up their display booths. Chairman Mark Rafail said the map, drawn by Ellen Ulmer of Fayette Engineering, contains locations for 53 artist booths on Main Street.

Over the summer, the DBDA discussed having an arts festival downtown during the 84 Lumber Classic of Pennsylvania but couldn’t organize the event in time for this year.

Since then, the board has talked about holding a festival during next year’s PGA tour event, but board member Timothy Grindle suggested a different date at Thursday’s meeting.

He said the first thing the board has to decide is whether it wants Kay Christy – director of the Fair in the Park, one of Pittsburgh’s three annual art fairs – to run the DBDA’s event.

If so, Uniontown could host its festival the week after the Fair in the Park, held the weekend after Labor Day, so the artists and vendors who attend the Pittsburgh event could be invited to the DBDA’s affair, he said.

At the DBDA’s invitation, Christy met with the board in September to explain some of the details involved in organizing an art show.

Board member Greg Parsons supported the idea of not having the festival during the PGA tour because volunteers needed to help with the festival would be committed to the golf event.

Next year’s 84 Lumber Classic has been tentatively scheduled for Sept. 20-26, which would be a week later than this year’s tour event was held.

Grindle said organizers should select a date soon so artists and vendors can be invited far enough in advance to allow them to make their schedules for next year.

Rafail said he will contact Christy and try to arrange another meeting with her.