The 7^th Annual ArtSHIP Festival will include art from Shippensburg University students and other local artists, wine and microbrew tastings, great food from area restaurants and live music. The festival sponsored by Shippensburg University's Relations Office is going to be held on Saturday, May 31 from 12 to 5 p.m. on the campus of Shippensburg University in the Ceddia Union Building. A wristband must be purchased for the wine and beer sampling. The cost of the wristband is $20 per person and it includes your souvenir wine or beer glass, sampling and entertainment (You must be 21 years or older to purchase a wristband). Children 12 and under are free. For more information, please contact the Shippensburg University Relations office located on the campus of Shippensburg University at 717-477-1218 or e-mail alumni@ship.edu.

Numerous outdoor sculptures created by students from the Art & Design Department at Shippensburg University will be on display during this event. In addition, a number of local artists will be demonstrating and selling their unique and hand-crafted art throughout the day. Pam Forrester and Robbin Strobel will have hand-crafted jewelry, Quiet Times Pottery artists Bill Hynes, Geoff Schmitz and Jim Zullinger will have unique pottery and there will be photographs by the late Robert M. Hirschorn.  

There will be a number of wineries and breweries offering tastings and also selling bottles of a variety of their wines. The wineries include Knob Hall Winery from Clear Spring, MD, Seven Mountains Wine Cellars from Spring Mills, PA and Tuscarora Winery from Chambersburg, PA. Roy Pitz will offer a number of microbrews.

Numerous area restaurants will offer samplings from their menus and a la carte items for purchase that will pair wonderfully with the wines and microbrews. These include Hillbilly's Snack Foods offering beef and venison jerky, snack sticks, summer sausage, buffalo and elk burgers and country ham sandwiches. Shuman's Concessions will have warm pretzel braids and The Nirvana Cookie Bakery will have classic and gourmet cookies, whoopee pies, rice crispy treats, coconut macaroons and muffins.

While you are experiencing the art, wine, microbrews and delicious food, sit back and relax to a variety of music that will be performed throughout the day and night. The schedule of musical performances begins with Escavie Jazz Trio from 12noon to 2pm and Nick Staver & Friends from 3 to 5pm. Later in the evening, enjoy The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie & The 5^th Dimension featuring Florence Larue appearing live in concert at the H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center on the campus of Shippensburg University at 7:30 p.m. To purchase tickets you can call 717-477-7469 or visit www.luhrscenter.com.

 Some other related events that are occurring on the same day in Shippensburg beginning in the morning are a 10K Race supporting the Cumberland Valley Rails to Trails Council (CVRTC a 501(c) (3) non-profit corporation). This race will begin at 10 a.m. with the award ceremony at 11:30 a.m. (Results will be posted at www.cvrtc.org). Online registrations are available at www.active.com or registration will be on the campus of Shippensburg University on Cumberland Drive beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 31^st.  This event is held rain or shine. Early registration prices available on www.active.com until May 30^th and will include discounted wristbands for the wine and microbrew sampling along with a souvenir wine or beer glass. For more information or to volunteer contact: Garrett Stahlman at 717-300-1337 or e-mail race@cvrtc.org.

So, come experience the arts and plan to spend a part or the whole day in Shippensburg. We look forward to seeing you!