Annual art festival is set for Saturday

Area artists will display and perform their artistic skills on Saturday at the annual Art in the Park.

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The fifth annual arts festival, put on by Columbia County Arts Inc., will include a quilter, silk painter, fiber artist, and painters creating their works at the event.

"I'm real excited because that is something new," said Cyndy Epps, Columbia County Arts secretary and president of the Artists' Guild of Columbia County. "To me, it is one of those really cool things, to see how somebody makes (their artworks)."

The festival runs from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the Memorial Gardens and Amphitheater behind the Columbia County Library in Evans.

Artists demonstrations are scheduled for the entire day.

Epps said she's hoping that those attending will be inspired by the demonstrations and displays set up by more than 30 arts vendors, including woodcarvers, potters, jewelers, painters, photographers and glass workers.

"It is amazing to see some of the talent that we have got in this area," said Epps, who also is a painter. "It is phenomenal."

The festival is designed to show off the county's large artistic community and to expose young people to the visual and performing arts, Epps said.

"I loved the results of the sidewalk chalk contest last year," Epps said. "That was very exciting to have all ages out there. ... The artwork was fantastic. That was just awesome to see."

The sidewalk chalk art contest starts at 10 a.m. and judging will begin at 4 p.m. The fee is $10 to enter one of three age categories -- 12 and under, 13-18, and 18 and over -- and includes a sidewalk space and chalk.

The festival also features live entertainment from poets, singers, dancers and actors.

There also will be lots of creative activities for children.

For information, visit www. columbiacountyarts.org or e-mail info@columbiacountyarts.org.