Big Crowd Attracted to 2-Day NoHo Arts Festival

Grace MacMillan rested her face on the cool, damp slab of red clay as her mother went to work.

With a careful hand, Laura MacMillan outlined Grace’s face, and then the mother-daughter duo spent the next 20 minutes, etching and smoothing eyeglasses, freckles and hair onto the profile.

Their etching will be part of a tile mural, combining all of the works done at Cal State Northridge’s ceramic tent, one of dozens of booths at the sixth annual NoHo Theatre and Arts Festival.

“I think this kind of stuff is great,” said Laura MacMillan, 37, of North Hills. “I love anything that’s hands-on for the kids.”

Weaving and drawing were among the other activities for children and their parents at the North Hollywood festival, aimed at promoting the local art community.

The two-day event also featured artists, street performers and more than 75 vendors, who lined the stretch of Lankershim Boulevard between Magnolia and Chandler boulevards.

There also were three stages for live entertainment, including performances by the Rainbow Choir of the North Hollywood First Baptist Church and the eclectic rock band, Space Cadets.

And, for the second year, local chefs showed off their culinary skills at the Taste of NoHo stage in the food court. Samples, of course, were available.

Thirteen local theaters within walking distance of the festival put on about 100 free performances throughout the two days. Siegel said 50 theater companies performed.

“We’re different from other festivals because of the theater and the taste of NoHo,” said Larry Siegel, the event’s public relations director.

By mid-afternoon, Siegel estimated a crowd of 35,000 will have attended the festival before its close Sunday evening.

The sunny skies Sunday provided perfect weather for the outdoor event, though some still opted for indoor activities. People crowded the Theater Tent, hoping to get tickets for the free shows.

“I was walking around and got tired of the booths, so I just figured I’d see what was playing,” said Larry Berger, 30, of Santa Monica, who got tickets for two shows.

But, for Camille Jones, 51, of Sylmar, the highlight of the festival was browsing the arts and crafts booths and chatting with the artists.

Jones said she came to the festival for the first time last year and was disappointed in the quality of merchandise. But after hearing it was supposed to be better this year, she decided to give it one more try. So far, she said, she’s been impressed.

Within the first five minutes at the festival, Jones and her friend, Naomi Sims, bought an African leather mask. The two attend many area arts and crafts shows, looking for potential Christmas gifts.

“If the festival keeps being like this,” Jones said, “I’ll keep coming back.”