Last year, we skipped FestivAll. Competing events out of town, combined with genuine fatigue and a FestivAll that was smooshed in with West Virginia’s 150th birthday made it easy for us to decide to take a year off from covering the time when Charleston becomes a work of art. We will be back this year. In fact, we’re gearing up to record the Art Parade (weather permitting) as I write this. To help get you in the FestivAll mood, we’re going to go back to our last epic FestivAll two-parter from 2012.

Over almost two hours of exclusive video, you will see Bob Thompson Unit, West Virginia Dance Company, The Boatmen, Raqs Shakti, Jenna Brooke Swanson, The Snake and the Pot, Alasha Al Qudwah, Richie Collins Three-O, Ian Bode, Todd, Sophie and Will Burge, Albans Arts production of “Proof”, Duo Divertido, Jude Binder, Dizzy Doc’s Balloon Sculpture, Bob Shank and Sam Morgan, Carli Mareneck and Friends, Katzendrummers, “Meta” a film by David Smith, Bare Bones, Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School, The Leon Waters Blues Band, Red Audio, Andy Park, Emily Burdette, The Kanawha Kordsmen and Sweet Adelides and Paul Calicoat.

We are also treated to an Effects Makeup demonstration by Rob “RJ” Haddy, our local star FX makeup artist in the first show.  Much of the first show is devoted to the FestivAll Art Parade, while it concludes with scenes of The East End Main Street Streetworks Art Auction and Celebration, and auctioneer Ted Brightwell. The second show focuses on the second weekend of FestivAll.