Artful Bears Debut Picnic to benefit Black Bear Film Festival

MILFORD — The 14 Black Bear Film Festival announces the Artful Bears Debut Picnic to be held rain or shine on Saturday, Aug. 10 from 10 a.m. to noon.

The Bears Picnic will debut the festival’s Artful Bear Sculptures, Milford’s famous black bear statues that emerge from hibernation for the Oct. 18 to 20 Festival. Gold passes to the festival will be available for purchase at this picnic.

The Artful Bears Debut Picnic will be held on the lawn of the Pike County Community House, the Milford branch of the Pike County Public Library. The 13 bears, each created by talented and inspiring local artists, will be distributed to the various storefronts of businesses sponsoring them. The event, coordinated by Connie Nichols and a team of volunteers, will offer “bear maps” showing the locations of the bears after the festivities.

This event is the kickoff to a fundraising effort to ensure the Black Bear Film Festival’s continued success. These bears will be available to bid on as part of the silent auction during the festival from Oct. 18 through 20.

The Artful Bears Debut Picnic is open to the public. In addition to the debut of the Pike County’s most recognizable symbols, the Artful Bear Sculptures, the picnic will feature free homemade baked goods, and live musical entertainment for the public attending. Merchandise will also be on sale.

The 14 Annual Black Bear Film Festival will be held on Oct. 18 to 20. A gala held on Oct. 18 will kick off a run of 14 films in the historic, renovated Milford Theatre, as well as a free two-day film salon featuring student filmmakers screening their films.

Other events include panel presentations, complete with QandA opportunities, with professional writers, directors, and cinematographers, and a silent auction that will auction off many brilliant prizes, culminating in the Artful Bear Sculptures themselves.