Residents from all over admired, sold, or purchased art, clothing, and toys from other residents at the arts and music festival in Union City on Saturday, Sept. 12. Art lined the gates of Hudson Presbyterian Church on West Street, and sellers, snacks, and children’s activities were set up from 18th Street to 22nd Street.
“A lot of inspiration comes from Union City,” long-time resident Mari Barona said. “For shirts, and running a business, it comes from Union City.” Barona currently lives in North Bergen but grew up in Union City.
At the festival Barona sold tee-shirts made by herself, her mother, and her boyfriend, as well as women’s accessories, and handbags called Addicted to Fresh. “Some accessories are made by my mom. She does arts and crafts, sewing, and handiwork, but had to put it on pause to take care of my grandparents.”
“My mother makes the accessories in her free time, and my boyfriend designs the shirts,” Barona added. “This city is our home. We grew up here.”
International crafts on sale
Other sellers sold unique items of clothing, art pieces, or toys. Peruvian hand-stitched belts were best sellers for Carl and Monica from Livingston. The belts were embroidered by women in Ayacucho, in the southern Peruvian mountains. Monica said she is from Peru and is familiar with arts and crafts.
“It was a good day,” Carl said. “We met a lot of new people, and that was not expected.”
“We met people from Russia, Ecuador, the Cape Verde Islands in Africa,” Monica added.
“We came to have fun.” – Emelie Rodriguez.
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Union City resident Hillary Ferguson came to the festival with her dog Miss Maggie to view art she’s interested in.
“I came here last year and bought an abstract painting,” Ferguson said.
Young Adrian Rodriguez, 7 months, enjoyed snacks and activities. “He’s a little too young for the bounce house, but we came to have fun,” his mother Emelie Rodriguez said.
Another resident, Nathalie A., and her son Calvin, age 5, also came to enjoy bounce houses. “We watched a show with Disney characters too,” Nathalie said.
Live dance performers and singers performed for residents. A little rain didn’t stop anyone either. “Even with rain it was still a pretty good day,” Carl said.
Samantha Meyers can be reached at samantham@hudsonreporter.com.