A slight dip in temperature and a yearning for funnel cake means only one

thing it's fair and festival time again.

The granddaddy of them all, the Powers' Crossroads Country Fair and

Arts Festival, opens the season this weekend for its 28th annual run. It is located at

the historic Powers' Plantation, 12 miles west of Newnan on Ga. Highway 34.

The event combines three festivals in one, blending together a feast for

the senses.

The Festival of Artists and Craftsmen draws 300 top-notch exhibitors

from across the country. The show has been rated number one in the Southeast by

The Harris List of Boulder, Colo., and Sunshine Artists Magazine lists it among

the top 200 festivals in the country. Whimsical iron work, minutely detailed

sketches, and a potpourri of pottery are a treat

for the eyes.

Forget the fat grams when you enter the Festival of Food. A delicious

sampling of regional cuisine, such as barbecue and homemade sweet potato pie,

compete against hot dogs and salty pretzels for your taste buds.

Enjoy some toe-tapping bluegrass around the Summerhouse Stage with

the Bullsboro Bluegrass Band, who have become an institution at the Festival of

Entertainment since the fair's early days. Also appearing on stage will be

Rachel Ferguson's Cloggers and the band Wild Eyed Dream. The Fort Benning

Army Band makes its debut this year and will feature selections from its jazz unit.

The festival gates are open Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.

and Monday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $4 for

senior citizens and military personnel. For children under 12 and over 4, admission is $2.

In conjunction with the festival, downtown Newnan is celebrating Festival

Days today and tomorrow.

For 28 years, downtown merchants have been kicking off the festival with

a huge sidewalk sale with bargains galore. The sale runs both days.

Tonight, the Heart of Country Music tour makes a stop at the court square

at 6:30 p.m. J.C. Jones, Pepper Coulon Rick Sousleu and Ashley Millet plan to bring

a dynamic show to Newnan.

The next big weekend for festival-goers is Sept. 19-20, a doubleheader of fun with Shakerag in Peachtree City and Founder's Day in Tyrone. Patrons can shuttle between the two fairs by school bus, leaving on the hour and half-hour.

According to Susan Taylor, Shakerag coordinator for the Peachtree City Recreation Department, there will be an exciting mix of returning exhibitors along with some new artists and craftsmen.

"I would also like the public to know that there are limited number of spaces available," she said. Potential vendors can rent a space for $50, with an additional fee charged for electricity.

Shakerag is a juried show, and potential exhibitors must submit an application and picture of their work for consideration. "We have the right to accept or reject it, depending on the quality of the work and the quantity of like pieces in the show," Taylor said.

In addition to the anticipated attractions like the moon walk and pony rides, Taylor said the Starr's Mill High School Chorus will sponsor a special children's section with games specifically designed for the younger set.

"This is a great attraction for parents with children," Taylor said.

Hours for Shakerag, located on Shakerag Knoll off McIntosh Trail adjacent to the Fred Brown Amphitheatre, are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

In conjunction with the weekend festivities, the amphitheatre will set the stage for Get back! The Cast from Beatlemania.

Tyrone Founders Day will get a head start on its annual celebration with the Sweetheart Beauty Pageant scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 12, at Sandy Creek High School. Contestants in the 6-month to 6-year-old category will compete at 2 p.m, with the 7- to 18-year-old girls

competing at 7 p.m.

The carnival comes to Tyrone Thursday, Sept. 17. One-price ride tickets are available for a limited time and can be obtained by calling 770-487-4038. The midway will run nightly until Sunday at 5 p.m.

The roster of events continues on Friday night with a dance for middle school students from 7-9 p.m., followed by a high school dance from 9-11 p.m at Shamrock Park under the tent. Runners can wake up Saturday morning with a 5K jog in the Chip Chase or strut around

Shamrock Lake with the seniors.

Vendors and exhibitors open up at 9 a.m. and will be in business until 7 p.m. In between, there will be a car show, duck race, parade, and an adult dance culminating in a fireworks display over the lake. The weekend closes Sunday following an ice cream eating contest and

womanless beauty pageant.

Also Sept. 19 and 20 is A Blue Ribbon Affair, which draws more than 250 artists and craftsmen to Jim R. Miller Park on Calloway Road in Marietta. A newcomer to the crafts show calendar, the Affair is sponsored by the North Georgia State Fair. It is followed by the

opening of the 66th annual state fair Sept. 24.

Exhibits range from flower shows and farm animals to entertainment by Charlie Daniels, and even features performing elephants. Admission to the fair, which runs through October, is $5 for adults and $2 for children 7-18.

Fayette County's own fair, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club, is scheduled for Sept. 28 through October 3. It will be at the Kiwanis Fields on Redwine Road in Fayetteville. All proceeds from the event go to charity. Kiwanians have asked that groups interested in manning a

booth call Reid Spearman at 404-688-0985, ext. 315. Prospective entertainers can contact David Aven at 770-460-0513.

<!--##############