Old Town gets scrappy

The finished products were displayed at the festival, where they competed in a juried competition for cash prizes, as well as a People’s Choice Award selected by festival attendees. A live auction of all 17 sculptures was held at the end of the second day.

Austin Ashley, executive director of the Old Town Commercial Association, wasn’t ready to give specific numbers but said that this year’s auction was the best ever, almost doubling the total raised last year. Team Hammered’s “Jonah,” winner of both the first place jury prize and the People’s Choice Award, raised $4,100 on its own.

Ashley counts this year’s ScrapFest, its first as a standalone festival, as a success and already has ideas to improve the festival for next year. But he is quick to point out that the community’s participation is key to the festival´s popularity.

“It’s a testament to the ingenuity of our artists,” he said.