Arts and Antiques Festival this weekend

This Frog Prince metal garden art will be one of hundreds of items available at the arts and antiques festival. ner during the festival at the Cider Mill Restaurant. The dinner, served from noon to 6 p.m., will be slow-roasted pork tenderloins with red skin potatoes, soup or salad, and a slice of pie or ice cream.

A benefit silent auction will be held at Past Tense on Sunday starting at 3 p.m. Items at the silent auction will include something for everybody, from crafts and antiques to collectibles. The silent auction is held at the arts and antiques festival each to year to benefit a local charity or worthy organization. Previous silent auctions benefited organizations such as food banks and pantries in the area.

This year’s silent auction will benefit the Family Literacy Center of Lapeer. “It all goes to help teach people to read,” said Heiner at Past Tense.

The Family Literacy Center of Lapeer has been operating in Lapeer County for more than 30 years, providing tutoring and education opportunities to battle adult and childhood literacy problems. Hundreds of people each year are helped by the Family Literacy Center, learning to read, receiving personal tutoring and even getting help earning a GED.

Local artists and crafters have contributed items to the Past Tense festival, like the handmade dolls pictured above. The Family Literacy Center recently purchased a building in downtown Lapeer, behind the Post Office, and moved out of the Mott Community College building in Lapeer. Because of the expansion, the Family Literacy Center is looking for help now more than ever. Repairs and modifications still need to be done to the new building and additional funding is always needed to keep their many literacy programs operating efficiently for Lapeer County residents.

Past Tense Country Store says the festival is going to take place rain or shine, thanks to tents and canopies that will be covering all the vendors. Heiner says she is confident that this year’s festival will be a success. Last year alone, hundreds of people showed up throughout the weekend, causing an overflow of parking.

“We started out with about 12 people set up there,” said Heiner. “It has grown more every year.”

Past Tense Country Store is located at 1965 Farnsworth Road, Mayfield Township. To learn more about the Arts and Antiques Festival, call Past Tense Country Store at 810-664-5559 or go online to www.pasttensecountry.com.