Celebrate Centralia celebrated its 10th year with a larger venue and a big crowd Saturday night.
Centralia Mayor Bryan Kuder was pleased with what he saw.
“This used to be for 10 years in a one block span. We moved it across Poplar Street to the west. It is now a three block event. Upwards into the mid-60s as far as the number of vendors that we got. Food and craft vendors, wineries, there is a lot of people out here right now and it is an absolute great event.”
Kuder is giving kudos to the Centralia Tourism Commission for sponsoring the event. Commission member Shannon Kooney was also pleased with the crowd and the success of the new Fine Arts Fiesta.
“I cannot believe the talent that not just Centralia High School, they did an amazing job with the exhibition and the number of art, but even the community and people that submitted art is a really cool edition. We hope to expand on that every year we can really celebrate the talent and art that Centralia has. Along with the music, food, wine and other things. We are really proud of what we have done this year.”
The People’s Choice winner from the art show was Centralia High Student Meredith May with her painting ‘Chasing After the Night’. It received 48 of the 478 votes cast.
In the official judging, Heather Keltner took first, Meredith May 2nd, Sophia Barrow 3rd, and Lauren Keltner honorable mention. Both Heather and Lauren Keltner graduated from Centralia High School in 2020 but due to COVID had never had an opportunity to display their art work.
Some of the artwork displayed at the first Fine Arts Fiesta held at the Illinois Theater as part of Celebrated Centralia. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
