A scaled-back Garden City Festival is scheduled at the Sacred Heart Cultural Center.
“This is our largest fundraiser of the year,” said Millie Huff, the center’s executive director.
Last year’s event was in the height of the area’s lockdown and was cancelled. With the utmost caution, organizers planned for something smaller, but with much of the same appeal the annual event offers.
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Three events are at the heart of the festival. With the signature tea already sold out, patrons seem ready, Huff said.
Two other activities are open to the public.
The closing reception for the Staci Swider and Elizabeth Moretz-Britt art exhibition will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, April 22, in the great hall. While the artwork has been on display for about six weeks, a reception didn’t mark the event’s opening. Organizers decided to wait until the show closed, she said.
The reception will be moved to the center’s great hall to provide ample social distancing, she said.
Swider has roots in textile arts. Patterns and bold colors often show up in her pieces. Moretz-Britt is a figurative artist influenced by the Impressionists and Fauvist painters of the 20th century.
The reception is free.
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The bulk of the festival’s activities will be from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 24.
The vendor sale and the community swap and sale will be outside the center in the courtyard.
Vendors include Dixie Ridge Growers, Leesville, S.C.; Guild Plant and Garden Shed, Augusta; Mary-Anna Farm, Sparta; Moore’s Nursey, Carrollton; and Sacred Heart Blooms, Augusta.
Individuals may also have a booth to sell and swap plants, said Huff.
“Pendleton King Park has a popular swap and sale that has been cancelled this year,” she said.
Spaces are $25, and applications are still being accepted for the swap and sale.
Also on site will be several food trucks.
The festival will have three guest speakers on April 24.
Amy Sutter of White Hills Farm will speak at 9:30 a.m. about herb-inspired garden beverages; Rebecca van Loenen of Augusta Locally Grown will talk about the beauty of succulents at 11 a.m.; and Ted Stephens of Nurseries Carolinana will speak on “exciting plants for Southern gardens” at 12:30 p.m.
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Several virtual garden tours and instructional videos are also planned.
Tickets to the Saturday event are $10 and are available at sacredheartgardencityfestival.com. Mention you saw this article in The Augusta Press to receive a $2 discount at the event.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
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