The ninth annual Copper and Fire Festival is set to take place on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 6 and 7 at the Britannia Mine Museum, with a special concert kicking off the festival in the Mill Building.
The festival will feature local and out-of-town artists whose work is incorporated with the mining industry, ranging from blacksmiths to jewellers.
"It's an arts event that showcases crafts that relate to copper fire and mined mineral. It's basically the connection between the arts and mining," said Carol Watts, Copper and Fire Festival director.
The Copper and Fire Festival is a unique way of showcasing the artists' talent, not just artists simply showing their work, Watts said.
"What makes this unique is that the artists are actually working, it's not just a static art show where people just put stuff on tables. They're actually doing this craft and showing people how they do their art," she said.
The event kicks off on Saturday, Aug. 6, at 7:30 p.m. with a concert featuring new age, new world musician Joseph Pepe Danza, who returns for a second year after having received rave reviews in 2010. This year he will be accompanied by fire spinners from Carnival Bon Bon.
Both the music and the showcasing artists are sure to provide entertainment and a learning experience for the whole family, young and old, Watts said.
"It was created to make people aware of the importance of mining in our lives," Watts said. "It's very interactive; it's not just a craft show."
Admission to the concert is $18 for both members and non-members. Admission to the Sunday art exhibit is free for museum members, while regular museum admission rates apply for non-members.
