Prescott Park Arts Festival History
32 Years in the Making (continued)

Learning has almost always been a part of the arts festival's history. Initially, art classes were the backbone of the festival. For more than 10 years classes were presented in a variety of mediums including sculpture, ceramics, silk screen printmaking, collage and more. Free interactive demonstrations were sponsored by the New Hampshire Art Association in the early 1990s. The performing arts were also represented in the early years with classes in acting, voice, dance, theater and design. Those classes were resurrected in 1997 with the addition of the Prescott Park Arts Festival Academy, an intense four-week training session for young performers.

In its 29-year history the arts festival has had many milestones not only for the park, but also for the Seacoast. In 1991, folk activist Richie Havens attracted 7,000 people to the park in a single performance. Those large numbers have also been recorded for performances of The Wizard of Oz and Annie. Early rockers Danny and the Juniors, the Marvelettes and Herb Reed and the Platters have all performed at the park. The Mamas and the Papas and Peter, Paul and Mary performed at arts festival fundraisers off site. The festival has also presented more than 7,000 square-feet of the AIDS Memorial Quilt in 1996, New Hampshire's largest display.

The festival has also played host to performers and friends from around the world. Opera Comique from Portsmouth, England; the Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra, from Ayrshire Scotland and the Hampshire Youth Orchestra from Hampshire, England have all performed at the park. The English influence can also be felt in The Piscataqua Faire - A Renaissance on the Waterfront, a three-day interactive event added in 1997 and featuring more than 20 shows daily at neighboring Pierce Island Park.

"My favorite thing is the incredibly magical experience of enjoying a community musical on a clear summer night, under the stars with the moon glistening on the Piscataqua River," said David Solomon, board president in 1994.

Over the years the festival has both flourished and seen hard times. Due to unusually inclement weather and some bad decision making, the festival almost closed for good in 1983, 1987 and 1994. Despite the success of the previous years, the festival was still struggling to find that right financial balance. Thanks to increased sponsorship, increased programming and swelling attendance, the arts festival has for the first time in its history become self-sufficient since 1995.

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