Powers' Crossroads Country Fair and Arts Festival is preparing to celebrate 28 years of artists, craftsmen and community Sept. 5-7.

The three festivals of Powers' Crossroads is the result of thousands of hours of work by Coweta County volunteers. Recognized by the Georgia Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism as the largest event in Georgia over the holiday weekend, the festival is attracting recognition as one of the finest festivals in America.

The Harris List of Boulder, Colo. rated the festival as the top-rated craft show in the Southeast for 1998 and Sunshine Artists Magazine's Best 200 Shows in America consistently ranks Powers' Crossroads in the upper echelon of arts and crafts festivals.

Just this summer, the festival was named a Top 20 Event in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society. The festival is held each Labor Day weekend at the historic Powers' Plantation located 12 miles west of Newnan on Ga. Highway 34.

The Festival of Artists and Craftsmen will feature the work of 300 exhibitors from all across America. Typically, the festival exhibitors represent as many as 25 states. New this year is an exhibit by the members of the Atlanta Glass Art Guild. The glass artists will showcase work in blown glass, fused glass and stained glass.

Headlining this year's Festival of Entertainment is the Bullsboro Bluegrass Band. The Newnan natives have been stalwarts of the Summerhouse Stage since the earliest days of the festival when there was no stage, only a single shed over bare ground.

Also returning this year is another popular band, Wild Eyed Dream, along with the Rachel Ferguson Cloggers. The Ft. Benning Army Band will make its debut this year and feature selections from its jazz unit.

The Festival of Food features a mouth-watering array of traditional country cooking, including pork, turkey and chicken barbecue, southern vegetable plates, sausage and biscuits and fried pies.

The festival is staged each year by Coweta Festival, Inc. The group is composed of six Coweta County civic organizations who volunteer thousands of hours each year to make the festival a success. Additionally, hundreds more volunteers participate through work in the food booths, childrens' nursery, kids park and many other attractions throughout the festival grounds.

The festival gates are open from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for senior citizens and military personnel and $2 for children 12 and under. There is no charge for children four and under. Ample parking is available with free shuttle bus service from the parking lots to the main gate.

Newnan and Coweta County also join in the festivities with Festival days, including road races and sidewalk sales in downtown Newnan. The 22nd annual road race on Sept. 5 features a 5K and a one-mile course through the city of Newnan.

The Festival Days Sidewalk Sale of downtown merchants takes place Sept. 4 and 5.