A family afternoon of hands-on workshops and a concert of “hands on bells” in an historical park setting rich in cultural history and beloved to the city. The Alchemy Handbell Ensemble, led by Boude Moore, returns to the Word Festival of Sacred Music to perform in the newly renovated Barnsdall Gallery Theater. The ringing of bronze-cast bells tuned to different pitches offer intricate melodic patterns and tones reminiscent of the sweet pure sounds of English church tower bells. The white-gloved hands of the performers move fluidly to lift, strike and recover from each note, creating parallel and contrasting circling arcs.

An 11-acre historical park dedicated to the arts, Barnsdall Park houses the Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpiece, Hollyhock House, as well as Barnsdall Art Center, the Municipal Arts Gallery, Gallery Theater, and the Junior Arts Center. The event provides an opportunity to participate in demonstrations at the Junior Arts Center with the Alchemy Handbell Ensemble in the afternoon as well as visit the Municipal Art Gallery exhibits of 'Dwellings and the Frank LLoyd Wright Conservancy Exhibit'. Some tours of the Hollyhock House are available.