Downtown Fayetteville will be brimming with excitement all weekend among scores of fine art, history, food, and family fun displays that arrive annually this time of year. The Fayette Fine Art Show, Taste of Fayette, and Taste of Living History will all be happening on and around the Courthouse Square at various times this weekend.
The Fayette Fine Art Show — aka the Old Courthouse Art Show — is the only fine arts and crafts show on the southside of Atlanta.
For over 40 years running, the show consists of approximately 75 artists from Fayetteville, surrounding cities, counties and states.
On both Saturday and Sunday on the grounds of the Old Courthouse lawn, visitors can see and purchase many styles of Artwork including watercolors, oil paintings, pencil drawings, portraiture, clay, glass, jewelry and mixed media.
Entertainment on Saturday will include a special performance at 1 p.m by the Peachtree City Wind Ensemble.
The kids will also have their own children’s art area where artwork is featured from each of the county’s schools. As the centerpiece, a large mural for the children to draw on and receive appreciation for their work will be on display. All children will be encouraged to put their own artistic touch on the mural.
The Art Show hours are Saturday from 10 a.m to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Another of Fayette County’s biggest events begins downtown at noon on Sunday, May 20, with the 11th Annual Taste of Fayette featuring local restaurants selling affordable samples of their finest offerings.
“Tastes” range from .50 to $3 each, so if folks just need a snack or need a full lunch, they’ve got you covered.
Some of the participating vendors this year include A Taste of Gluten Free, Atlanta Margarita Man, Broadway Diner, City Cafe & Bakery, The Half Shell Oyster Bar and Hot Dog Shop, Jimmy John’s, Moe’s Southwest Grill, My Favorite Things, Olde Courthouse Tavern, Partner’s Pizza, Royal Stix Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi, Smacking Lipz, TCBY, and more.
Awards will be given for the “Finest Taste,” “Finest Treat” and “Most Amazing Booth.”
New for this year, adult patrons will have a special section where beer and wine is served at the Lane Brown Gazebo. Fayetteville’s first restaurant on the square, The Olde Courthouse Tavern, will be offering a selection of alcoholic brews to enjoy with the food samplings of the day.
All food is sold on a token system, so be sure to bring cash or credit cards to redeem for tokens. While munching on the various tastes, visitors can also stroll through the non-food section showcasing a variety of local retail and informational vendors. All day long the fountain stage will be alive with great musical performances from “CTW” and “Spectrum,” as well as other local entertainers throughout the day.
At the Kids Corner, children can stay entertained with bungee jumps, slides, and face painting for the little ones. Also, the CSI Crime Lab will be fingerprinting children that want to be registered in the national database. Most of the kids’ attractions are at reduced prices or even free of charge.
The Taste of Fayette kicks off Sunday at noon and runs until 5 p.m. The event is presented by Kaiser Permanente and Fayetteville Main Street.
Also downtown all this weekend, The Taste of Living History offers a glimpse into what life was like in Fayetteville’s earliest days.
On the grounds of the Holliday-Dorsey-Fife Museum, just one block west of the Art Show, visitors can witness many live-action displays of historic trades including a blacksmith, potter, quilter, wheelwright and others.
Civil War re-enactors will also have a campsite set up and will be conducting rifle drills throughout the day. For those craving more historic facts, admission to the museum this weekend is only $2.
All three events are held on and around the Downtown Fayetteville square within easy walking distance of each other.
Joyce Waits, Main Street coordinator, says that the combination of these three events in one big weekend is so much fun and a great way to get out and enjoy a fun-filled day.
For more info, call 770-719-4173. Upcoming Fayetteville Main Street activities can be found on the Calendar of Events page at www.Fayetteville-GA.gov.
