The 53rd Annual Roswell Arts Festival

By Valerie Morelli

The Roswell Arts Festival will be held the weekend of September 21-22 on the Roswell Town Square. In its 53rd year, the event raises funds to support the Roswell Recreation, Parks, Historical and Cultural Affairs Department special projects and programs. This years event will feature more than 70 artists as well as live music and demonstrations.

Artists from throughout the Southeast participate in the festival. Visitors will find a variety of art forms to explore including paintings, photography, graphics, sculpture, pottery, jewelry, and crafts. Since its inception, the Festival has provided an opportunity for children to be artists by offering the chance to create their own painted masterpieces for free. Additional kid-friendly activities include face painting and a bouncy house. Adults will enjoy live entertainment by local artists as well as food trucks and an opportunity to show their artistic talents by adding to the community painting.

Jessica Barker, the artist coordinator for the Roswell Arts Festival Committee, is always excited to see what the artists have to offer.

Whether it is an artist who has exhibited with us for 20 years or someone who is doing their first show, the variety of work and techniques is a lot of fun to see, says Barker. Through the years, weve gotten more and more local artists. There is a lot of talent in our community.

Barker and others on the small committee credit the Festivals success to the Roswell residents who come back year after year. I love the sense of community within the Festival. Ive been coming to it since I was a child, and I enjoy being able to now bring my children and continue the tradition, says Barker.

Since its inception, the Roswell Arts Festival has raised more than $1 million to support programs throughout the city. Funds raised at the Festival have paid for the Riverside Sprayground, the Serenity Garden at Roswell Area Park, and contributed to the Rotary Dream Field at Groveway Community Park as well as many other initiatives.

Festival hours are 9:00am-5:00pm, with live entertainment beginning at noon each day. Shuttle service is available from Roswell City Hall. Limited artist space in certain categories is still available, as are sponsorship opportunities. Visit RoswellArtsFestival.com if interested or for additional information.