by Noella Noelophile®
(Graphic courtesy of Diana Hatcher, and used with permission.)
Approximately thirteen years ago, a California artist received a rejection.
Her response was something Ojai still celebrates–and so can you.
(Photograph courtesy of Diana Hatcher, and used with permission.)
One week from today, the Ojai Valley Lavender Festival happens in downtown Ojai’s Libbey Park. This is a free all-day, community-wied celebration of “Everything Lavender! Everything Ojai!”, complete with talented exhibiting artists and all-day live entertainment.
“My absolute best experience in working with this lovely festival has been the ability to further the education of many of our local residents,” emailed Festival President Cindy Mullins.
(Photograph courtesy of Diana Hatcher, and used with permission.)
The “education” part is due to the scholarships. Ojai Valley Lavender Festival awards scholarships to Ojai Valley youth to help them pursue green careers, according to the Festival webpage. Recipients’ educational programs either focus on the beneficial uses of lavender, or on agricultural practices involved in growing the fragrant plant.
(Photograph courtesy of Diana Hatcher, and used with permission.)
For this year’s Festival, more than 5,000 attendees are expected–and they’ll all get to experience the benefits of this generosity. Lavender oils, lavender sweets, lavender lemonade, lavender ice cream, soaps–and of course, some vendors with non-lavender but unique handmade items–will all be a part of the Festival.
(Photograph courtesy of Diana Hatcher, and used with permission.)
Art, music and education are at the core of the celebration. The Festival’s lively all-day musical lineup, in the gazebo, will include the talents of Richard Kaller, Ventucky, and Smitty and Julia. The park’s south end will feature a speaker stage, with presentations on cooking, self-sustaining farming and beekeeping.
And the Art Pavilion will display local artists’ talents. OVA Arts recently put out a call for “lavender-themed art”; come see the first-, second- and third-place ribbon winners!
(Photograph courtesy of Diana Hatcher, and used with permission.)
Meanwhile, the lavender celebration is on, throughout the town! According to an Ojai Valley Lavender Festival press release, any food or beverage establishment in town, that day, will feature a lavender-related item on the menu. Lavender creme brulee, lavender margaritas, lavender meringues and lavender berry smoothies are all mentioned. And while I can’t say I’ve ever had lavender coffee, there’s a first time for everything!
(Photograph courtesy of Diana Hatcher, and used with permission.)
This will be a first for us, and looking at the list of vendors, I’m especially looking forward to seeing Imagination Depot (this is a small business run by a couple who make old-fashioned wooden trains and cars, as well as hand-embroidered stuffed toys). ResinArtNation looks interesting; the homepage explains that the artist uses her photographs and stamp collection to make jewelry.
And of course, total favorite artists from before will be on hand: Mother-and-daughter artists Barb and Ellie Lieberman–proprietors of Seeds of Inspiration and Acorn Tops respectively–have both recently published new books, Barb’s third and Ellie’s first.
Barb’s second book, To Miss the Stars, literally cost me sleep–I couldn’t put it down! (And if there’s a wedding in your future, you might also like to ask her about her bride-and-groom sachets–very cute and creative!)
Ellie, meanwhile, uses her talents for an enchanting take on “fairyland”. She creates fairy houses, fairy doors and gardens. Can’t wait to read Society’s Foundlings, her first book!
And Jessica Johnson, proprietor of Jessie J Inspirations, creates graphics that are ooh-and-aah gorgeous! Jessie recently illustrated her first children’s book, and according to her blog, she also just exhibited her work in another art gallery, this month!
(Photograph courtesy of Diana Hatcher, and used with permission.)
Meanwhile, the Ojai Valley Lavender Festival promises to be a celebration of “community” in the best sense. A look at their vendor list reveals not only the local lavender farms but nonprofit Welcome Home Soldier Foundation and Southern California Golden Retriever Rescue.
Can’t wait to see all this! And–here’s the story behind the festivities.
(Photograph courtesy of Diana Hatcher, and used with permission.)
Cindy emails that all this came about when an Ojai-area artist attended a lavender festival in Squim, Washington a number of years ago. The lady was so impressed, Cindy says, that she applied to become a vendor–only to be rejected, due to not being a local artist.
“She came back to California determined to have her own festival and thus, in 2004, the Ojai Lavender Festival was born,” Cindy emails.
(Photograph courtesy of Diana Hatcher, and used with permission.)
The original founder moved on five years later, but, Cindy says, several locals decided to continue the festival, now called the Ojai Valley Lavender Festival and celebrating its twelfth anniversary.
(Photograph courtesy of Diana Hatcher, and used with permission.)
Happy Anniversary, Ojai Valley Lavender Festival! What a good thing the Squim, Washington festival said “no”.
The 12th Annual Ojai Valley Lavender Festival runs from 10 am to 5 pm, Saturday, June 27th, in Libbey Park, between South Montgomery and South Signal Streets in downtown Ojai. Admission is free.