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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; For one vendor, the Fine Arts Fiesta serves as a reunion site, not just a place to sell her wares.</p><p>&#8220;I always look forward to seeing friends that I haven&#8217;t seen in a long time,&#8221; said Andrea Gustitus, of Pringle, owner of Libby &amp; Liam jewelry. &#8220;I also love having people try on my jewelry and their reactions to it; their opinions about it, things I might not have thought about; and how every piece looks different on each different person.&#8221;</p><p>The Fine Arts Fiesta celebrates local artists in many genres &#8212; from art to music to dancing to theater. There are also juried art contests, children&#8217;s activities, and performances from local talent.</p><p>Gloria Barkley, of Hartland, Michigan, traveled all the way to Wilkes-Barre to sell her handmade steel art.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m looking forward to lots of customers,&#8221; said Barkley.</p><p>The festival was filled with visitors from around the area by afternoon.</p><p>Jennifer Walton and John Mark, both of Pittston, explored the Square with a toddler in tow.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m off work this week, so I figured I&#8217;d hang out and do something fun,&#8221; said Mark. The couple spent the day looking at art and doing some light shopping.</p><p>Casey Pongitore, of Wilkes-Barre, ran from vendor to vendor with her daughter.</p><p>&#8220;I wanted to start exposing (my daughter) to art,&#8221; said Pongitore. &#8220;She really enjoys doing the painting activities.&#8221;</p><p>The fiesta features a children&#8217;s tent and a family activities area.</p><p>Helen Grebski, of Pringle, is a volunteer who helps with arts-and-crafts activities suitable for all age groups.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s always gratifying seeing this extended family situation in the area,&#8221; said Grebski. &#8220;That&#8217;s why I try to gauge my activities for all different levels.&#8221;</p><p>The festival was started in 1956 by Annette Evans and Alfred Groh as a way to promote the arts in the Wyoming Valley. It has been put on every spring since, growing to a four-day event as the years passed.</p><p>For more on the Fine Arts Fiesta, <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/tag/fiesta2018" target="_blank">click here</a>.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">A woman is reflected in art that hangs in a tent on Public Square during the Fine Arts Fiesta on Thursday in Wilkes-Barre. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/web1_TTL051818Fiesta7-5.jpg</photo0><caption0>A woman is reflected in art that hangs in a tent on Public Square during the Fine Arts Fiesta on Thursday in Wilkes-Barre. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Cabrini Rudnicki</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div>

Fine Arts Fiesta is about friends for some