Festival will sample 200 wines

Fine art and fine wine will be featured this weekend in Evans as part of the second annual Art in the Park and Wine Festival.

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Art in the Park, presented by the county's Community Events department and Columbia County Arts Inc., begins at 7 p.m. Friday with an awards reception for the art show in which about 40 area artists are vying for a $4,300 purse in nine art categories.

Awards for student works in the same categories also will be presented at the reception. The artwork will be displayed in the lobby of the Columbia County Library, in Evans.

"We just encourage people to come out and support arts in the area," said Sandy Partridge, Columbia County Arts Inc.'s president.

The reception, which lasts until 10 p.m., includes musical entertainment by the Crosstie Walkers and Norton Wade.

"The way it is organized, it is going to represent each phase of art," Partridge said.

Tickets to the reception cost $10 and are available at the door. All proceeds benefit Columbia County Arts Inc. for grants to area arts groups, Partridge said.

The Art in the Park festivities will continue from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Columbia County Memorial Gardens behind the library.

The free day of art-related events features hands-on children's activities, arts and crafts vendors, food and several artistic performances including Eryn Eubanks and the Family Fold, Columbia County Ballet and Columbia County Choral Society.

Just a short walk from the Memorial Gardens, the CSRA Wine Festival Inc. is holding its second annual Wine Festival at the Evans Town Center Park behind Kroger.

The festival will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. and will feature nearly 200 wines for tasting provided by area distributors, said Pat Goodwin, the event coordinator. Cheeses and breads and food from area restaurants, including French Market West, Fatz Cafe, La Maison, The Partridge Inn at the Veranda and Augustino's, also will be available.

The event will be held rain or shine. QuietStorm, an area jazz band, will perform throughout the afternoon.

Tickets cost $25 in advance and $30 the day of the event at the gate. You must be 21 to enter. Tickets for designated drivers cost $15 each.

Tickets can be purchased at Ninth Street Wine Shop in Augusta, The Vineyard Wine Shop in Evans or by visiting www.localwineevents.com.

Proceeds from the Wine Festival will be split between Columbia County Arts Inc. and the Greater Augusta Arts Council, Goodwin said.

For more information about Art in the Park, call (706) 312-7192 or visit www.columbiacountyga.gov.