Page 31 - Augusta VG 2015
P. 31
Arts in the
Heart of
Augusta Festival
Each September, Augusta showcases stages. Spoken word and literary artists
its rich cultural diversity with music, share their works on the recently added
dance, arts and crafts, children’s Troubadour Stage.
activities and the wafting scents of
exotic foods in a community festival There’s also a singer-songwriter
known as Arts in the Heart of Augusta. contest, judged and voted on by
residents, and a new AMP’d stage that
The event has grown from a small hosts live performances by touring
festival with one stage in 1982 into a bands and local musicians.
regional attraction that covers much
of the downtown area and attracts More than 120 booths showcase the
performers and artisans from around juried wares of artisans: paintings,
the country. sculptures, hand-made jewelry,
pottery, glass, musical instruments,
Since Augusta has a strong immigrant photography and other arts and crafts.
community, the festival quickly took on
an international flavor. A children’s area features a family
stage, free arts-and-crafts booths and
At the Global Food Court -- one of the a young artists’ market, where school-
event’s most popular attractions -- aged children sell their creations.
residents from India, the Philippines,
Greece, China, Mexico, Lebanon The event earned the Southeast
and other countries dish up kabobs, Festivals and Events Association’s
baklava, meat dumplings, arozz con Silver Kaleidoscope Award for Best
pollo, falafel and other world fare. Festival in 2014. Readers of Columbia
County Magazine selected it as the
Local, regional, national and even Best Festival in 2013, and it was
international groups perform named among the Top 20 Events in the
everything from Indian temple dances Southeast by the Southeast Tourism
to Greek and German folk music to rock Society in 2013.
and roll to jazz on five performance
Greater Augusta Arts Council
1301 Greene Street 706.826.4702 AugustaArts.com
