Organizers have announced the dates for the second annual Dunwoody Art Festival, which is set once again for Mother’s Day weekend (May 7-8, 2011) and takes place in the heart of Dunwoody.
The Dunwoody Art Festival will stretch two city blocks and will feature an Artist’s Market that will extend for more than a third of a mile, continuous live entertainment from local musical acts, an interactive children’s area with games, rides and free arts & crafts stations, and an extensive food court. Dunwoody’s eclectic shopping district, which borders the festival grounds and is filled with restaurants, boutiques and unique stores, will be open to festival goers throughout the weekend.
With nearly two months of planning still ahead of the organizers, the Artist Market at this invitation-only show is already at capacity. One hundred and eighty (180) artisans have committed to exhibit at the Festival, some of them locking in their calendars before they left last year’s event.
“We had an amazing inaugural year in 2010. Both the weather and the local community embraced us, which helped us secure some of the best artists in the country for this year,” said festival organizer Frances Schube, partner of Splash Festivals. “We encourage everyone to come back again, and bring their whole family. There will be plenty of art, music, food and fun for everyone.”
Also part of the festival this year is the “Chairs for Charity” gallery and auction. Students from elementary, middle and high schools in the area are busy designing and decorating chairs and stools that will be auctioned to the highest bidder to benefit the art programs in public schools. Last year’s Chairs for Charity auction raised more than $1,300.
The event takes place on Chamblee Dunwoody Road between Mt. Vernon Road and Dunwoody Village Parkway (DV Parkway will be closed to thru traffic from 2am Saturday, May 7 through 9pm Sunday May 8). Free parking will be available at a satellite lot located at 200 Ashford Parkway, and regular shuttles will run between the lots and the Festival grounds.
The 2010 Dunwoody Art Festival was recently named “Best New Event” from the Southeast Festivals and Events Association. The Festival beat out events in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia for the gold medal.
For information on sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, visit the Festival website at www.dunwoodyartfestival.com.
