The Show
Stoney Steps Artfest is a juried outdoor show featuring a wide range of fine arts and crafts created by 55+ skilled Canadian makers. The show is located along the picturesque banks of the Napanee River in beautiful Newburgh, Ontario, Canada.
As a successor to Newburgh’s award-winning Art Among The Ruins show which was produced and hosted by the Anderson family until 2019, our goal is to continue to offer exciting high-quality, diverse art to the public while at the same time bring residents together and create community connectedness.
At Stoney Steps Artfest, spend the day shopping for beautiful handmade goods and fine art from some of the best artisans in the region, sit under a tree and sip tea, listen to birds sing and musicians play, watch live educational demonstrations, tantalize your taste buds with delicious lunch fare and homemade pie all lovingly prepared by local community groups. Come celebrate art with us, we welcome you!
The Property
Stoney Steps Artfest is less than 1 kilometre from the village hub. It is located on a beautiful 57-acre riverfront property owned by the Embury family of Newburgh. Since 1927 the property has been fondly called “Stoney Steps” by the locals due to its naturally occurring limestone steps, making it an easy access point to enjoy fishing, swimming and canoeing in the Napanee River.
The scenic Cataraqui Trail, which follows a section of abandoned CN railway, runs adjacent to the property. This trail is a year-round shared-use recreation trail stretching 104 kilometres from Smiths Falls in the east to less than 1 kilometre to Strathcona in the west. Train services were discontinued in 1986 and the ties and tracks removed in 1989. The trail is enjoyed daily by hikers, cyclists, equestrians, snowmobilers, cross country skiers, adjacent landowners and agriculturalists.
One may take a leisurely 0.75-kilometre walk or bike ride from the historic villages of Newburgh or Strathcona directly to the show site. For those who prefer to drive, there is field parking on site for hundreds of vehicles. Vehicle access is along an unpaved farm lane through the fields just off County Road 11 in the Village of Newburgh.
The Founder
Stoney Steps Artfest is produced by Martha Embury with the generous help from enthusiastic local volunteers.
Martha is the owner of Stoney Steps property. She values community service and for many years has volunteered and contributed as a Board Member in numerous local groups and organizations. Living a busy farm life, she still manages to find time to indulge in her love of quilting. She derives tremendous satisfaction from applique work, piecing, and quilting on her long arm quilting machine. Martha is pleased to allow art lovers from near and far to enjoy Stoney Steps, her beautiful, historic property!