After a year without its Arts in the Heart of Augusta festival, organizers are ready for a smaller event called the ArtsCity Festival Sept. 17-19.
“We’re very excited about this,” said Brenda Durant, executive director of the Greater Augusta Arts Council.
While it’s scaled down from previous years, the festival promises to have some of people’s favorite parts of Arts in the Heart of Augusta, she said.
Courtesy The Greater Augusta Arts Council 
Courtesy The Greater Augusta Arts Council
One of the festival’s most popular aspects is its international food booths. There will be fewer cultural groups participating with downtown businesses having the opportunity to be involved.
“Our restaurants took a horrible hit” with COVID-19, she said. “We’re offering all of our restaurants an opportunity. About 13 or 14 have joined in.”
Many restaurants will be packaging “grab and go” menu items for ease of consuming at the festival, she said.
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In addition to the international food, the festival will feature signature performances and 80 juried fine arts vendors from around the country.
Durant said organizers pared down some of the venues that might be more crowded and less conducive to social distancing. The two indoor stages have been eliminated as well as the children’s craft area.
Despite that, there will be plenty of performers to hear and see and lots of art to buy.
The Global Stage at the Augusta Common will be the main stage with opening and closing performances.
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Among those set to provide entertainment over the three days include The Bucket List Band with Russell Joel Brown, Wayne Hoey’s Big Band with Wycliffe Gordon on opening night, Sept. 17.
Community groups such as the Augusta Players, Musical Theatre Ensemble, Evans High School Musical Theatre, Savannah River Middle Eastern Dancers, Suzuki Strings, Augusta Youth School of Dance and Aiken Sheriff’s Pipe and Drums are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.
Each night at the Global Stage will end with a toast.
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The Jazz/Blues/Roots Stage at 9th and Broad Streets will feature artists who focus on those genres. Trey McLaughlin, Happy Bones, John Hobbs, Bodega Cat, Niki Haris, Kigg Cherry and Javonne Jones are a few of the artists slated to play over the weekend.
Other festival highlights include the Southern Beer Garden with beer and wine, the Westobou Ferris Wheel and Artzilla which features several artists painting live at the Book Tavern.
The ArtsCity Festival will be from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday in downtown Augusta. Advance tickets are available online for $10; admission will be $15 at the gate. Tickets are good for the entire weekend. Children 10 and younger are admitted free.
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To learn more visit, artscityfestival.com.
Durant said hopes are to return to the Arts In the Heart of Augusta Festival next year and to celebrate the 40th festival.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
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