Fayetteville art show offers families many activities

It’s time once again for one of Fayette’s oldest and most prized traditions: the Old Courthouse Art Show. Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, the annual art show will once again take place over two days this weekend. On Saturday, May 17, the show will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday, May 18, the show will run from 12 to 5 p.m.

As always, the weekend will offer many different activities for people of all ages. The Art Show will include a two-day, juried fine arts show on the old Courthouse grounds. New this year is a 40th anniversary community monster mural.

“We wanted to get the community involved in the 40th anniversary celebration and decided upon a monster mural,” said Patsy Gullett, art show organizer and Main Street board of directors. “Everyone is invited to come down and take part in painting the mural and receive a commemorative medal. The mural will be in the Kids Art Tent next to DJ Ryan. Come paint, dance and sing to help us celebrate 40 years of bringing quality art to Fayette County!”

One block away, the Holliday-Dorsey-Fife Museum invites everyone to sample “A Taste of Living History” exhibit on the museum lawn. Step back in time to the early 1800’s and discover how every day items were created by hand. The “Antiques Alley” is returning again this year with several vendors selling their treasured possessions. Mill Pond Manor will be selling plants and flowers to kick start spring. “A Taste of Living History” exhibit invites the community to walk through a Civil War camp site and watch the soldiers perform rifle drills; view hand-sewn quilts displayed throughout the museum; watch how an old forge is used to create every day items; learn how to weave a basket, make a fiddle and cane a chair; observe depictions of local historical events throughout the museum; have a picture taken in a cut-out of Scarlett’s “picnic” dress and more.

All exhibits are on the museum lawn except for the trunk show. To tour the museum, admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under.

To round out the weekend, the seventh annual Taste of Fayette will take place around the gazebo at Stonewall Village on May 18 from 12 to 5 p.m. with local restaurants competing for “Most Amazing Booth” and “Fayette’s Finest Taste.” Kids activities include the rock climbing wall, shark, pyramid and obstacle course inflatables. Additional fees apply.

The Taste of Fayette is continuing with a non-food section with informational booths for local businesses.

“Last year, we had more than 10,000 people to sample tastes,” said Jennifer Cleland, coordinator for Main Street. “We like to keep it family-friendly and again will have the inflatables and rock climbing wall. New this year, we’ll have firefighters from the Fayetteville Fire Department bringing out a fire engine, dog demonstrations from the City of Fayetteville Police Department and performances from Buzzly the Fire Safety Bee.”

The Fayetteville Police Department Crime Lab is providing fingerprinting for children and DNA swabbing. The fingerprints will be on cards that parents can take home and file away to use in case of an emergency situation. They can also take the DNA swab as well. The Crime Lab will provide envelopes to place these items in.

Attendees will be able to choose tastes from a variety of restaurants priced from $.50 -3. Tokens are available at ticket booths. Vendors include Baci Italian Cuisine, Bugaboo Creek Steak House (last year’s Fayette Finest Taste winner), Gezzo’s Surf & Grille, Golden’s on the Corner, Johnny’s New York Style Pizza, Longbranch Steakhouse and Seafood, Mangarelli’s Pizza, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Mooving Café, Mr. Fugi, Partner’s Pizza, Rita’s Italian Ice, Taco Mac and more.

The Taste of Fayette is sponsored by Fayetteville Main Street and is just one of the many events slated for 2008. For further information about Main Street happenings, visit www.downtownfayetteville.org or call Main Street at 770-719-4173.

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