MAKANDAFEST '97 GROWING ON PEOPLE

MAKANDA, Ill. -- The annual event which has turned downtown Makanda into a musical arts and crafts bazaar since 1989 finally has outgrown the small artist community.

MakandaFest '97 will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Touch of Nature environmental center Camp 2 south of Carbondale. The site affords much needed space for expanded demonstrations and crafts, says Anita Hayden, one of the MakandaFest organizers.

"Some people are not happy with the movie," she said. "But now we can grow and expand. We do have more exhibits and facilities."

SIU's Touch of Nature camp, which serves handicapped children during the summer, is located on Little Grassy Lake. Canoe and paddleboat rides will be available.

Exhibitors from Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri and Arkansas will sell arts and crafts items and give demonstrations at the free event.

Also scheduled from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday are living history demonstrations dating to the 18th century. Some of the demonstrations will include: wool carding, chairmaking, flintnapping, weaving, flint and steel fire starting, pioneer chair building and leatherwork.

The festival begins at 7 p.m. Friday with folk and blues music in Freeburg Hall.

Music starts at noon both Saturday and Sunday with performances at the outdoor music stage.

One featured act will be The Peacocks, who will perform Scottish and Irish music Saturday only in the living history area.

In addition, the Greylight Theatre, an alternative theater group from Murphysboro, will present "The Year in Small," a music, dance and drama revue.

The food list includes: hummus on pita, chips and salsa, bean burrito, tabouli, vegetarian chili, gyros, Polish on pita, curly fries, funnel cakes, frozen bananas dipped in chocolate, ostrich burgers, tenderloin sandwiches, onion potatoes and six kinds of ice cream.

A silent art auction both days will benefit the Lia Driscoll College Fund. Lia's mother Pat was an artist and MakandaFest supporter who died within the last year.

Touch of Nature is 8 miles south of Carbondale on Giant City Road, which intersects with Illinois Route 12 near the University Mall.

An hourly shuttle bus will depart from the Carbondale town square to Touch of Nature from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

MAKANDA FEST '97 MUSIC SCHEDULE

Friday

7:30 p.m. -- Andrea Stader, acoustic

8:30 p.m. -- We Don't Know Yet, acoustic

9:30 p.m. -- Jim Skinner, blues

Saturday

Noon -- Boro City Rollers, ska & rock 'n' roll

1:15 p.m. -- Blue Heron, folk & blues & rock

2:15 p.m. -- Groove Merchants, Latin & jazz & funk

3:15 p.m. -- Banjovi, rhythm and bluegrass

4:30 p.m. -- For Healing Purposes, acoustic folk

5:30 p.m. -- Mr. Wonderful & the Magdaddies, jazz & swing & blues

Sunday

Noon -- Ole Fishskins, bluegrass

1:15 p.m. -- Roy Hawk, country

2:15 p.m. -- Hardlivin', country and western dance

3:15 p.m. -- Carter & Connelley, environmental folk

4:15 p.m. Full Swing 30s & 40s, acoustic swing

5 p.m. -- Art auction

5:30 p.m. -- Slappin' Henry Blue, rock & blues