Arts in the Heart of Augusta, the city's biggest and most anticipated festival each year, is back this weekend in a temporary location, but still with plenty of countries highlighted, international entertainment and food, and rows of artists and crafters selling their wares.
The three-day festival has been an annual event since 1982, when two smaller festivals merged to create one big event. It's continued to grow and usually draws about 100,000 people over the three-day weekend. The festival brings together artists, musicians, performers, food, and culture from throughout the world.
The ongoing road construction in downtown Augusta has moved Arts in the Heart to the Augusta Exchange
Club Fairgrounds this year.
The fairgrounds' smaller footprint has meant some adjustments this year, said Rhian Swain, organizer and spokeswoman for the fair, which is sponsored and managed by the Greater Augusta Arts Council.
For example, last year there were six ticket gates. This year there are two. There will be plenty of signage directing people to the gates and the various areas of the festival, she said. And there will be plenty of maps of the site available.
This year, 20 countries will be represented in the festival's Global Village, which is one of the festival's most popular attractions where various cultural groups and communities in the Augusta area prepare and serve authentic foods.
The various groups will showcase their heritage through dance, music, traditional dress, storytelling, and more. This year, groups from Nigeria and Ghana will join the Global Village.
The returning countries represented at Arts in the Heart this year are Laos, Lebanon, Guam, Ireland, China, Jamaica, Sudan, Korea, India, Trinidad, Thailand, Turkey, Philippines, Latin America, Greece, Vietnam, South Sudan, and Samoa.
There will be various stages for performances, like the Soul & Jazz Stage, the Community Stage, the Global Stage, and the Literary Lounge Stage.
About 40 artists and crafters will be selling their original art at the festival.
Analog Studio of Augusta is new to the festival this year. It is a local film photography darkroom that specializes in black-and-white photography in which the artists use their hands to shape the light falling onto photosensitive paper.
The Family Area returns this year. Families will find hands-on art activities, live performances, street performers, puppet shows, and other cultural experiences. The area also has the Young Artists Market where young artists from kindergarten to high school sell their creations. The participating artists are members of the Arts Council's Youth Emerging Artist program.
A big change this year, aside from the location, is the parking situation. There is limited parking available at the fairgrounds on Hale Street. Parking is also available at Craig Houghton Elementary in the lot behind the school, and in the old jail lot at 401 Walton Way. There is no parking on 4th Street between Laney Walker Blvd and Hale Street.
The Arts Council and Augusta Public Transit are working together to provide free bus and Pedal Pub rides to and from the fairgrounds from downtown Augusta on Saturday and Sunday. This also provides festival-goers an easy way to explore downtown Augusta and see the changes and progress being made on the downtown renovation, Swain said.
Bus service will be available every 30 minutes, and two buses will be dedicated to the festival, according to a news release. Pickup spots will be marked with signage and will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Proof of online badge purchase, a festival badge, or a wristband is required to ride.
Shuttle parking locations are:
- Augusta Marriott parking garage
- The Richmond County Board of Education parking deck
- Augusta Municipal building parking lot.
Pedal Pub pick-up locations are:
- Cotton Exchange Lot
- Pedal Pub at 716 Broad St.
- Affordable Dentures on Greene Street.
Reservations are required to ride the Pedal Pub. To make a Pedal Pub reservation:
- Using a smartphone camera to scan the QR code found at artsintheheartofaugusta.com/parking.
- This should open your text messages with a pre-written text to 863-464-9519. A greeting text should pop up: Connect with Pedal Pub, which will come to your location.
For questions about festival parking, contact the Arts Council at 706-826-4702
Tickets to the event can be purchased for $15 in advance or $20 at the gate. Tickets are valid for all three days of the festival. Children 10 and younger get in free with a paid adult.
For a list of where to buy advance tickets and more information about the festival, visit artsintheheartofaugusta.com.
The festival hours are Friday, 5-9 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Jennifer Miller covers food and business for The Augusta Chronicle. She can be reached at jmiller@USATodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Arts in the Heart opens Friday in a new place, but the same experience
