Holiday season at the Mielke starts with craft fair

Ah, November, the month of Thanksgiving, Black Friday, deer hunting and the first-ever Merry Mielke Christmas Craft Fair at the Mielke Arts Center! This new event, on Saturday, Nov. 14, will host 25 vendors displaying a variety of art, crafts and other interesting items to help you with your Christmas shopping. Santa will be there, too, and kids can have their photos taken with him. Holiday music will fill the air, and carolers will sing the songs of the season throughout the day. The Blue Bird Cafe from Clintonville will serve food all day. Doors open at 9 a.m. and the fun lasts until 4 p.m. There is no admission, but donations are always welcome to benefit the events sponsored by the Shawano County Arts Council. Come and get into the holiday spirit! Another taste of the holiday season takes place on Sunday, Dec. 6, at 2 p.m. when the SCAC presents “Seasonal Sounds,” a feast of folk, jazz, pop, R&B and contemporary songs. The three artists performing are Peter Roller, Robin Pluer and Stas Venglevski. Peter is assistant professor of music at Alverno College in Milwaukee and plays many styles of guitar and music, including country blues and swing. He is the author of the book “Milwaukee Garage Bands.” Robin is a WAMI award winner and has been called “Milwaukee’s own chanteuse extraordinaire.” She sings in the manner of a cabaret singer. Dressed in her colorful stage wardrobe, she invites you to relax and listen to her easy singing style. Stas plays a bayan accordion, and offers classical, contemporary and ethnic music. He is a native of the Republic of Moldova, part of the former Soviet Union. He has played with the Chicago and Tacoma symphony orchestras. All three artists are favorite performers at our very own summer Folk Music Festival in Shawano. Tickets are $15 and available soon at BMO Harris Bank, Glas House, Beans & Books and the chamber of commerce — all in Shawano. This special concert is presented in memory of Joyous Bowen, a longtime volunteer with the Folk Music Festival and the Shawano County Arts Council. I wish you a happy Thanksgiving and hope you can spend the holiday with your families. I thank God every day that our family is happy and healthy — and that they still like each other! I also wish the hunters out there a safe and successful time in the woods. See you at the theater!