Although it’s a smaller festival than the annual Arts in the Heart of Augusta, the ArtsCity Festival had grateful artists and patrons.
“I’m so glad to be able to do it again,” said Billy S., one of the area artists who has a booth at the event that opened Sept. 17 in downtown Augusta. “It’s fun to be able to be out here.”
The pandemic led to the 2020 festival’s cancellation, and organizers opted for a smaller footprint with fewer stages and booths that were spread out. But Billy S. was just glad to be able to be with the community he loves.
The festival opened with music by Russell Joel Brown and Bucket List.
The Association of Military Musicians, a local group of former Army band members, also took the stage, followed by big band sounds conducted by Wayne Hoey and featuring jazz artist Wycliffe Gordon.
The military group was formed about 35 years ago and played some rousing military marches as well as Broadway favorites such as “76 Trombones” from “The Music Man.”
The festival has two stages this year – the global stage at the Augusta Common and the Jazz/Blues/Roots Stage at 9th and Broad Streets.
More than 80 juried fine arts vendors sold a wide array of items.
Josh Price of Contrived Curiosities turned scrap metal and discarded items into works of art.
Junkyards and mechanic shops are great places to get pieces for his creations, he said.
Using old nails and screwdrivers, he made sculptures of spiders and with leftover motorcycle casings, he formed birds. He’s also taken old flatware to make other items.
Jewelry, paintings and glass art are among the other types of wares available.
It had been years since Alysia Crespo had been to an arts festival in downtown Augusta. She grew up in the area but moved away for many years only recently returning.
“It wasn’t this big the last time I came,” she said. “It was just at the Augusta Common.”
She planned to return over the weekend to take in more of the event.
The ArtsCity Festival will be from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday in downtown Augusta. Admission is $15 at the gate. Tickets are good for the entire weekend. Children 10 and younger are admitted free.
To learn more visit, artscityfestival.com.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
