Festivals require a lot of planning. Not long after one year’s event is in the books, the next one is already in the works. And the upcoming Arts in the Heart of Augusta has been in the planning for a while – more than two years.
“This is our 40th anniversary,” said Brenda Durant, the Greater Augusta Arts Council’s executive director, of Arts in the Heart of Augusta, which draws tens of thousands of visitors to downtown. “This should’ve been two years ago. We’re going to have a big celebration.”
Arts in the Heart of Augusta has grown from a small festival in the parking lot of the Municipal Building and was held in various downtown locations before the Augusta Common was created.
The pandemic nixed the festivities in 2020, and last year, the arts group held an abbreviated event called the ArtsCity Festival. But Sept. 16-18, it’s back in full swing and with a bigger footprint.
“Two years ago, we were going to expand east to the 600 block of Broad,” Durant said. “We didn’t do that last year.”
The 600 block of Broad Street will be the new Zone 5 for Arts in the Heart and will feature a variety of children’s activities including a youth artist market, street performers, tie dye and other hands-on projects.
“The 600 block is going to be popping,” said Durant.
Various stages are set up throughout the three-day festival. The global stage will be the location for the opening and closing ceremonies. The event begins Friday evening with the finals of The Augusta Press’s inaugural Press Play songwriter competition.
The six finalists (in no particular order) are “Forget About Me” by Dan Agnetti; “Do We Learn” by Priscilla Alexander; “Black Sky” by Baby Boi (Walter Santiago); “Deep Dark Hole” by Bryan Hatch; “Moving On” by Paul V. Gordon; and “Good Time for a Bad Idea” by Chris Hardy.
Also on Friday night will be Wayne Hoey’s Big Band. The Swanee Quintet, celebrating its 83rd anniversary this year, closes out Arts In the Heart on Sunday.
Performers including singers, dancers, bands and theater groups are among the entertainers over the course of the weekend on the multiple stages.
In addition to the live entertainment, more than 130 artists who specialize in jewelry, photography, painting, clay and fashion items will be concentrated along Broad Street with their items for sale. Some may create while at their booths.
Artzilla is back again with multiple artists painting live during the course of the weekend.
Seeing artists creating is one of the great things about Arts in the Heart, said Durant. It gives children — the next generation of artists — the opportunity to learn about the arts, some for the first time.
It could put a spark in them to want to try something new as they see others doing it, she said.
And one of the draws for many people to Arts in the Heart is the food — an international smorgasbord of culinary offerings.
Durant remembers the earlier days of Arts in the Heart when the Augusta area had fewer food options. She said the festival is the place where she first experimented with different types of food.
“I think I had my first sushi roll at Arts in the Heart,” she said.
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Seventeen different nations plus the good old American hot dog will be represented in the Augusta Common.
Arts in the Heart of Augusta will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday.
Advanced badges are $12 per person. Children 10 years old and under are admitted free. Badges will be $15 on the day of the event. Advance sales end at close of business Thursday.
They are available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday at the Richmond County Tag Offices, Municipal Building, 535 Telfair St., Suite 200; 2816 Washington Rd. Suite 109, Publix Shopping Center; and 3463 A Peach Orchard Rd.; from 11 a.m. too 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday at Vintage Ooollee, 1121 Broad St.; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at Augusta and Co., 1010 Broad St., and New Moon Café, 116 Laurens St, Aiken.
For additional information, visit artsintheheartofaugusta.com.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the managing editor of The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com
