West Hartford’s second annual ‘How-To Festival’ will be held on Saturday, March 24 at the Noah Webster Library, and will include demonstrations on a wide variety of topics and activities.

By Ronni Newton

In one space, in one day, people will be able to learn a diverse variety of skills ranging from brewing beer, to embroidery, to cake decorating, to orienteering, to playing the bagpipes, to belly dancing.

More than 3,000 people attended the inaugural How-To Festival at West Hartford’s Noah Webster Library last spring, and Grants and Programming Manager Joe Cadeiux anticipates this year’s event will be even bigger.

“The concept is uncomplicated,” Cadieux said. “Forty volunteers from our community show off their stuff, their special skills, how to do something.” Those 40 people include local experts, enthusiasts, and hobbyists, as well as professionals. The wide variety undoubtedly includes activities to appeal to people of all ages, and personalities.

A full list of demonstrations is provided below.

“Preparations for the Festival began with a strategy session last October, attended by a dozen West Hartford librarians, who formed the How-To Festival committee,” Cadieux said. Funding is being provided by the West Hartford Public Library Foundation.

One of the event’s goals is to engage with the community, and bring people to the library who haven’t visited in an while, Cadieux said.

In addition to the demonstrations, guests will be entertained with live music throughout the day by jazz pianist Taino Pacheco, and jazz guitarist Sinan Bakir. The Green Teahouse will serve tea.

“You don’t even have to be from West Hartford, or have a library card, to come and enjoy the Festival,” said Cadieux.

The How-To Festival is Saturday, March 24, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Noah Webster Library, 20 South Main St. in West Hartford Center. Attendees can park in the Isham Garage in Blue Back Square and come
directly to the library to get parking validated.

During the Festival, both the Faxon and Bishops Corner branch libraries will be open for business as usual from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information, visit the How-To Festival’s web page, or or call the library information desk at 860-561-6990.

Demonstrations

3D Print:  Flying Dragonflies

Belly Dance (ages 16 and up)

Bhangra Dance (traditional dance from India)

Brew Beer

Build Super-Cool Engineering & Robotics Robots with LEGOS

Cake Decorating with Lindsey O’Donnell

Care for your Orchid

Change a Bicycle Tire

Choose Teas to Enhance Your Healthy Lifestyle

Compass: Orienteering Basics

Create Designs on Lucite Picture Frames

Create Geometrical Art Patterns on Paper

Dance Salsa (popular dance that originated in the Caribbean)

Declutter, Downsize and Organize

Design a Mini Notebook using Washi Tape

Design and Plant a Vegetable Garden

Do a Variety of Embroidery Stitches and Styles

Do Needlepoint (Canvas Embroidery)

Edit RAW images in Photoshop

Fly Fish

Lawn Bowls (popular in 46 countries!)

Make a Hula Hoop

Make Beautiful Charm Bracelet

Make Decadent Desserts Vegan and Gluten-free

Make Henna Cones (Arabic Style)

Make Henna Designs (Indian Style)

Market Your Home or Business Using Digital and Social Media Marketing

Meditate: Intro for Adults (Intermediate Students Welcome)

Organize and Manage the Paper in Your Life

Paint Rocks: Step-by-Step Painting of an Octopus (ages 10+, adults welcome) Max. 15

Perform a Proper Squat for Daily Activities

Play the Bagpipes and Drums

Prepare your Home for Sale (+ 3 Home Staging Tricks)

Properly Determine the Correct Portable Fire Extinguisher to Use on a Fire, for ages 12 and up

Putt a Golf Ball

Quilling Flowers and Snowflakes

Safely and Effectively Use Essential Oils

Set Up Tents and Camping Equipment

Transform Clay into a Bowl Using a Potter’s Wheel

Use Simple Tips to Relieve or Eliminate Back Pain

Weave a Textile on a Loom

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