The Fourth Annual Settlement Shops Fine Art Fair went off with a flair this year. The Ambassador Jazz Combo from Birch Creek played. And they played well, especially considering these seven teenage boys had only performed music together for a week or so!

A colorful event it was!

The event was held on Saturday, August 4 under sunny skies and fairly warm temperatures. Art and food vendors lined the courtyard between the lodging building of this property and the permanent (although primarily seasonal) retail businesses that offer anything from books to cherry pies. Lying between Fish Creek and Ephraim, the Settlement is a peaceful place conveniently located right off Highway 42. It's really right at the heart of the Peninsula. A Farmer's Market is held here (in season) each Wednesday.

On this great day, fairgoers were treated to jazz music wafting through the air. We heard strains of Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Birch Creek's Ambassador group is made up of the chosen few who get to supplement their music camp experience with the rigors and delights of doing live performances during their stay, and quite a few of them at that. They learn what it would be like to be a performing musician, i.e., getting to the gig, setting up, playing, coping with the challenges of outdoor playing (bugs and wind blowing your music off the stand) and packing up lots of equipment to go home. A well-earned break found some of these kids chomping on treats from Sweetie Pies, located right near the performance tent. Who wouldn't?

Artists displayed work in various media.

Art for sale included original oil and watercolor paintings, weavings, textiles, jewelry, pottery, and kites. We were impressed with the overall quality of the work in this show. It was also refreshing to have just a few tents to troop through, rather than a sea of them as is found at times in other local fairs. Hearing live music probably also makes looking at all the items for sale a lot more fun. All in all it was a day of visual and aural stimulation!

If you don't already know, Birch Creek Music Performance Center is a summer music school near Egg Harbor. It's entirely devoted to advanced young musicians. With a performance emphasis, students are taught by nationally-known performing artists and teachers during the day, and perform alongside them in various public concerts at night. Four sessions focus on symphony, percussion & steelpan, and big band jazz (2 sessions). Over the years these concerts have grown in popularity.

Fine music and fine art ... what a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon!