Thirty-one

years ago, Tom Powers began a festival at Powers' plantation, his boyhood

home, that featured artists and crafters.

Since that

time the Powers Crossroads Country Fair and Arts Festival has grown exponentially.

The weekend now features live entertainment, a 5K road race, a plethora

of Southern dishes and festival foods and exhibits from more than 200

artists.

Visitors to

Powers Crossroads this year will have the opportunity to see and purchase

paintings, drawings, photographs, wood carvings and sculpture, pottery,

jewelry and much more. More than 30 percent of this year's exhibitors

are showcasing their wares at the festival for the first time. The exhibitors

hail from 23 states and were narrowed down by a jury from a field of 500

applicants.

"The variety

of creative, handmade work that will be on display this year is amazing,"

said festival director Roxanne Wallis. "Every type of craft, both

traditional and contemporary, will be represented at this year's festival,

as well as painting, print making and photography."

Each year the

food booths draw huge crowds. Twenty-five local church and civic club

booths serve up traditional festival food, such as funnel cakes, spiral

potatoes and hamburgers as well as Southern dishes such as pecan tarts,

fried pies and pork barbecue.

The musical

entertainment this year features some newcomers and some old favorites.

Teresa Wade, an up-and-comer from Nashville, will perform at 2 p.m. Sunday,

Sept. 2, while the U.S. Army Ground Forces Band from Fort McPherson will

perform at 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 3. The Bullsboro Bluegrass Band returns

for its 30th consecutive year with performances at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept.

1 and Monday, Sept. 3. Other local talents performing at various times

all three days will be Justin Thompson, Dark Horse and Honky Tonk Deluxe.

Also featured

annually at the festival are demonstrations of plantation life as it existed

circa 1850, with the original Powers' Crossroads grist mill churning out

wheat flour and corn meal and a blacksmith demonstrating his skills as

he works on farm implements used at that time.

Newnan-based

Country Gardens Farm and Nursery will present 20-minute courses on a variety

of gardening topics. There will also be a special booth sponsored by The

Home Depot and manned by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Newnan/Coweta County.

The children have been working hard assembling and decorating jewel boxes,

bird houses, plastic bag recycling boxes and spice racks from kits provided

The road race,

now in its 25th year, will take place Saturday, Sept. 1. A 5K race and

a one-mile course will run through the city of Newnan. Call 770-253-0751.

Hundreds of

volunteers from around Coweta County work each year to make the festival

a success. Proceeds from the event are returned to the community through

a variety of projects sponsored by the Coweta Festivals member organizations.

Festival gates

are open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 1 and 2, and 9 a.m.

to 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 3. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors

and military personnel; and $2 for children 5-12. Children under 4 are

admitted free. Parking is also free and a free shuttle bus is available.