Milk & Mallets stone carving festival happening during Dairyfest

The second annual “Milk & Mallets” stone carving festival is set to take place in Winchester, Ontario on August 6th & 7th as part of the Winchester Dairyfest celebration. The basic premise for the festival is to have the participants carve art from a piece of Indiana limestone.

PHOTO CREDIT - Submitted Photo

Winchester - Jun. 21, 2011 - The second annual “Milk & Mallets” stone carving festival is set to take place in Winchester, Ontario on August 6th & 7th as part of the Winchester Dairyfest celebration.

This one of a kind festival, made popular in Europe, is fairly new to North America as stone carvers ply their trade in this two day event. Carvers from throughout the Ottawa Valley and a few from outside the area such as Niagara-on-the-lake and Peterbourgh have joined in.

The basic premise for the festival is to have the participants carve art from a piece of Indiana limestone. The carvers range in experience from professionals, who carve in such places as parliament hill and Rideau Hall in Ottawa, to hobbyists who dabble part time in the craft. The choice of design is left to the artisan as 2010’s event had carvings from animals to modern art to garden gnomes.

Last year, 22 carvers took part and there was a demonstration area where the general public could take part and try their skill on a piece of stone with expert guidance.

The festival has been designed that there isn’t an air of competition, but rather a feeling of camaraderie amongst the fellow carvers, similar to that of barn raisings of yesteryear.

The carvings are finished off after the second day and turned over to a local auctioneer where the artwork is sold to the highest bidder and proceeds are funneled to the Winchester Downtown Revitalization Committee, for the beautification of Winchesters’ downtown core.

The interest level is very high in this craft, as art is unmasked before the public's eyes and can be taken home for a beautiful conversation piece. For more info go to winchesterdairyfest.com and click on the Saturday or Sunday tab for dates & times.