The Arts Come Alive in Florence, AL

Color outside the lines as you and your family enjoy the day in Florence, Alabama!

The 29th annual Arts Alive juried fine arts and crafts festival is this weekend, May 16 and 17 in downtown Florence. The festival takes place in Wilson Park and at Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts and features quality national, regional and local artists and crafters. Hours of the festival are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. both days.

Admission is free so bring the family and stroll through the park as you meet artists, find one-of-a-kind treasures to add to your collection. This festival is stroller-friendly and safe for kids to explore in the open area of Wilson Park. Bring pennies for the kids to throw in the fountain located in the center of the park. Make sure to stop by the Frios Popsicle stand for a delicious cool summer treat. Several local food vendors will be in the park and available to serve family friendly treats.

Arts Alive for Kids

This year be sure to visit the Home Depot Children’s Area where kids of all ages can create a unique piece of frame-ready art to take home and cherish for years to come. The children’s area will be located in front of the Florence Public Library. Kids can also enjoy drawing with sidewalk chalk as well as dance to a variety of music to be performed by several local musicians on the lawn of a local home adjacent to the Kennedy-Douglass Center. Over 50 Shoals area school children, grades K-6, have their art creations on display in the gallery. This year’s winners are two local first grade children. You don’t want to miss seeing their artwork.

Do you have a budding artist in your family? Come meet a local young adult artist by the name of Rhiannon Clarke. She has been fostered and mentored by several well-known local artists and is an inspiration to kids who are aspiring artists themselves. She will have a tent in the park full of her colorful paintings.

About The Art

The volunteer-led festival showcases artists specializing in painting, stained glass, jewelry, sculpture, pottery, fiber art, woodwork, photography, and much more. Arts Alive T-shirts, cups and posters will be available for purchase in the park. The Arts Alive juried gallery exhibition is in Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts right across the street from Wilson Park and is open the same hours as the festival. The cultural center for Florence, Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is a gallery, educational facility, museum, and a center for the coordination and promotion for cultural activity in the area. It serves as the administrative office for all the museums. It is a home base and meeting place for cultural groups and a showcase and classroom for all arts disciplines. The Center features annual exhibits and rotating exhibits by artists from the Southeast, workshops and classes for all ages, concerts, and interesting lectures and programs.

Your family will not be disappointed to make the short drive to Northwest Alabama and explore The Arts one tent at a time at Arts Alive.

[themify_box style=”lavender rounded” ]ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sarah Oglesby is a Huntsville native who currently resides in Florence, Alabama with her husband, daughter and soon to be new baby this fall. Sarah enjoys working with local nonprofits, cooking up the latest garden bounty, and living in her own real life “Fixer Upper” show. Spending many countless hours on Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter, her to do list and calendar always have something on it. [/themify_box]