Taped, pinned, tacked, and plastered on message boards throughout Greensboro, the point is clear: this small city is no stranger to events. Amid the collage of attention-catchers, though, is it possible to simply walk by, unaffected by a worthy event that is calling your name? In the case of the CoHill Festival last weekend, that would have certainly been a shame.

A festival consisting of an eclectic mixture of artists and musicians, and attended by bands such as Crystal Bright and the Silver Hands and Hope for a Golden Summer, CoHill Fest also hosted Greensboro’s own retail arts and crafts event, the Hand to Hand Market.

“Events like CoHill Fest are really important because they kind of force people to see what’s out there,” said Tristin Miller, a visual artist who participated in the Hand to Hand Market. “Greensboro particularly isn’t a city that has a lot of galleries. It isn’t a city that has a lot of music venues that accommodate large events. That is why we have to have these outdoor festivals.”

Lined with tables displaying all types of artistry, from jewelry to paintings to clothing to pottery, Mendenhall Street was transformed into a path of inspiration for attendees who came out in the brisk budding fall weather to see just what Greensboro’s artists and musicians have to offer. What they found was a chance to see the work of artists and musicians from all over North Carolina, each with a different style and energy.

“What’s really cool about CoHill Fest is that the music is varied,” said Crystal Bright of Crystal Bright and the Silver Hands. “A lot of festivals have the same kind of music. I’d like to think that CoHill Fest has something for everybody.”

As I perused the street-side vendors, their art perched on flimsy tables lightly grounded on the asphalt below, I felt the unique soul of each vendor offered delicately in their displays. Such a concentration of creativity and inspiration, I thought, is something to be celebrated and sought out.

Still, with all of the variety, all of the pure unfiltered artistry this festival has to offer, where are all the people?

“I think it’s a shame that more people don’t come out to festivals like CoHill Fest,” commented Olivia Meyer-Jennette, an event attendee. “There’s such a creative force here. These people are also really accessible and by buying goods from them you’re supporting your community.”

Indeed, a mood of unity among a varied crowd radiated along Mendenhall Street on Saturday, along with support for local artistry and a possibility for a stronger community through art and music. As the group Hope for a Golden Summer took up their instruments to play to a tightly packed half-moon-shaped crowd, I felt this compelling force, as clear as the strums of the band’s mandolin. Even as the threat of night hung heavy overhead, I saw warmth exuded from the people around me, people who were not only embracing community, but creating it.

“Art and music are really strong forces that bring people together to share emotions and talk about things that they might not normally talk about,” said Bright. “Events like this are about bringing people from all walks of life together.”

With all that this festival and others like it have to offer, how could anyone resist? The fact is that a lot of these events go unnoticed by a lot of people. As for keeping informed of future events like CoHill Fest in Greensboro, Miller advises “social media. Don’t just ignore your Facebook invites and event posts. We can advertise all we want, but if no one takes the time to explore local art events, it’s for nothing.”

So, get out and explore, Guilford! You might be surprised where those posters and flyers can lead.