The Spirit of the Desert gourd patch will again have a triple booth at the 14th Annual Running of the Gourd Festival in Casa Grande on February 10, 11 and 12.
Colleen McKnight
Spirit of the Desert Gourd Patch has moved! Our new home is in the Painting Room of the Arts and Crafts Building at Oakwood Country Club. Meetings are on the 3rd Thursday, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. And our weekly workgroups meet in the same room every Sunday afternoon from noon-4:00 p.m. Detailed directions are on our webpage at SpiritDesertGourds.com.
February is about the busiest month for our gourd patch as we prepare for the huge annual gourd festival in Casa Grande. This is the 14th year for the festival, sponsored by Wuertz Gourd Farm and the Arizona Gourd Society.
This year, as the largest patch in the Arizona Gourd Society, we have taken over the running of the large competition at the festival. Over 200 gourds will be entered into nearly 50 different categories. Artists from all over the United States enter works into this show, because it’s considered the best. The quality of art and the number of competitors make it the show to be in, and definitely the one to see.
Besides the huge competition at the festival, there are hundreds of booths selling both finished gourds and supplies. Our patch will have a huge triple booth full of over 200 gourds created by our members. We’ll have work in all sizes and prices for all customers. When you come to the festival, stop by the Spirit of the Desert Gourd Patch booth on the right wall of the vendor area – you’ll be impressed!
Also at the festival you can find every supply necessary to create your own gourd art. From the thousands of unfinished gourds at the Wuertz booth, to every paint, embellishment and tool needed – there’s no better time to get inspired! If it’s a hobby you’d like to take up, consider joining our patch. The weekly workshops and monthly meetings are such a help. We even provide free mentors!
Of course the festival is also full of food, constant music, fun area for the kids, activities, raffles, a few thousand other friendly people and usually sunshine. For more information, see the Wuertz Gourd Farm website wuertzfarms.com/gourd-festival.