Corrected at 9:42 a.m. July 28

MORRISTOWN – Thirty artists will set up their easels around town next weekend for the annual Plein Air Festival here scheduled for Aug. 3-6.

The festival officially starts at 10 a.m. Thursday and ends at 10 a.m. Sunday at Bella-Brooke Vineyard and Winery in Hammond.

Judges will accept up to three paintings per artist.

Mark Keller of Norwood is the sole St. Lawrence County artist competing this year.

Other Northern New York artists registered for the festival include Amy Forgit and William Christopherson, both of Watertown; Linda Palmer and Jerry Merrill, both of Redwood; Drina Kay of Cape Vincent, Cheryl Simeone of Three Mile Bay, Diane Leifheit of Paul Smiths, Robert Hedden of Wellesley Island, and Jan Byington and Faye Ingerson, both of Clayton.

Diane Drayse-Alonso of Ogdensburg is this year’s juror of awards.

There will be an early stamping of canvases Wednesday, Aug. 2, between 5 snd 8 p.m. at the library, 200 Main St. Artists will have canvases stamped between 10 and 11 a.m. Thursday, the first official day of the event, and are expected to begin painting at 11.

The public can visit each of the artists painting on Friday at their site and pick up “door” prize tickets at each location.

A social event is scheduled after painting concludes Friday at 6 p.m. at the Iva Smith Memorial Gallery of Fine Art, 627 State Highway 37, Hammond. There will be lectures, tours and refreshments served. Artists Bell Chevigny, Robert Hedden and Sue Benedict will be honored.

Artists will paint within village limits Saturday, Aug. 5, from noon-3 p.m. and from 8:30-10:30 a.m. there will be a Chapman’s View Paint Out at the Chapman Mansion, 903 Northumberland St. A $200 cash prize for best in show will be sponsored by Ella’s Restaurant. The juror of awards will be Kathleen Kelly.

Also on Saturday, the Morristown Library will hold its annual book and bake sale.

At 7 p.m. there will be a public Meet the Artists social event sponsored by the Frederic Remington Art Museum, 303 Washington St., Ogdensburg. Museum director Laura Foster will present “Remington as a Plein Air Artist.” There will be music, cash bar and snacks. There is a $5 admission fee.

A show, silent auction and reception opens to the public at noon on Sunday at Bella-Brooke, 2989 County Route 6, Hammond. There will be door prizes and entertainment at the event. There is a $1 cover charge to attend this final reception.

Awards will be announced around 2 p.m.

This year’s awards include a $500 first place community award, a $350 second place award sponsored by Tracey and Dave VanArnam, a third place $200 Josie Bell Smith Award, an Artists’ Choice $300 Island View Funeral Services Award, the People’s Choice $100 Wright’s Marine Award and the Honorable Mention Bounty of St. Lawrence County Award.

For more information, contact the Morristown Public Library at 315-375-8833 or email mtnlib@ncls.org.

Additional details about the festival can be found at https://www.morristownpubliclibrary.org/node/366.