The art shows held for many years by the Westover Artists at community churches in the Flamborough and Dundas area have evolved into something bigger and better.

Last August, the group of area artists came up with the idea of combining their art show with a full-fledged community festival. Held in Westover, the two-day event attracted such positive response that it is back again this year and will likely be an annual event for years to come.

The expanded program of activity, including live entertainment, food from the Westover Caf and a nostalgic atmosphere created by costumed volunteers from nearby Westfield Heritage Village, contributed to the success of last year's country festival. More of the same will highlight this summer's rendition being held Saturday, Aug. 23 and Sunday, Aug. 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

All of the activities will take place in and around the three main buildings situated in the hamlet of Westover at the corner of Westover Road and 6th Concession Road West.

The Westover Cafe, (formerly the general store), the Westover Women's Institute (W.I.) Hall and the old barn (once a blacksmith shop) that stands between the store and the hall will be open for visitors to view the works, talk to some of the artists and try some tasty treats prepared by Mary Boyd in the cafe.

The Westover Artists, a non-profit group formed in 1999 with members from Waterdown, Lynden, Dundas, Ancaster and Westover, hosts the weekend festival.

Elsie Irvine, president and founding member, said the group has been working out details of the event since June and has made a special effort to expand the program of activities and ensure that the festival is well publicized.

"It was very successful during its first year," she said. "Everyone was delighted with it and we received a lot of favourable comments."

The festival helped generate more exposure of the artists' works and more interest from the public. "It has done much better than just an individual art show," Irvine noted.

Watercolors, oils, pastels and pen and ink sketches by members of the artists' group will be exhibited in the W.I. Hall and cafe, as well as in a couple of tents erected on the corner.

Fourteen members of the Westover group will take part this summer, up four from last year. Besides Mrs. Irvine of Westover, they are: Angelika Plath-Godfrey, Johanna and Michael Geear and Joyce Canfield, all of Waterdown; Marg Banks, Mary Johnson and Doris Kivell, all of Lynden; Ev Wagg, Betty Wamsley, Betty Kennedy and Bob Mason, all of Dundas; Monique Arbour of Jerseyville and Wanda Kuras of the Valens area.

There will be plenty of other activities to entertain festival goers. Jim Wamsley, a Dundas resident and member of the Hamilton Amateur Astronomer's Club, will invite guests to look at the sun through a telescope mounted outside; Mr. Wamsley's daughter, Celia, will dress as a clown and supervise a table featuring children's balloons and small games; Ron Sealey of the 4th Concession and his band of old-time fiddlers will provide entertainment throughout Saturday and possibly on Sunday, a small display of antique cars will be on site and the Westfield Heritage Village volunteers dressed in Victorian garb will present a short performance called History on Parade, including a high-stepping dance, at 1 and 2:30 p.m., Saturday.