Leigh Stewart and Mark McConnell are the organizing duo behind Arts in the Park, which brings its 15th celebration to Lakebottom Park this Sunday.
The main focus of the event is an art show and sale but Arts in the Park also features music, food and children’s activities such as pony rides and puppet shows.
More than 30 artists are expected to participate this year which means art lovers will have a variety of items available for purchase.
The Justice Family Bluegrass Band, that’s been participating every year since the event started in 1997, will perform from noon-2 p.m.
“The event is absolutely wonderful,” said Michelle Justice, who plays the fiddle. “We always have a great time. We usually close, but this year, we have two new members and they’re from out of town. So we’re starting the show.”
Justice performs with her husband, Terry, who plays guitar, and their son, Dean, who plays bass. New are banjo player Jim Wingate from Simpsonville, S.C., and mandolin player Barry Kratzer from Savannah.
Justice said Stewart and McCollum saw them at a function, and liked their music so much that they asked if they’d perform at Arts in the Park.
“I look forward to it every year,” Justice said. “When it’s over, I think to myself, ‘We have to wait a whole year for the next one.”
She likes the venue because there are so many shady trees that it’s not too hot and because it’s in early May, the bugs aren’t too bad.
Other bands include the Maneuver Center Band (formerly called the Fort Benning Infantry Band) and the Columbus Jazz Quartet.
Guests are welcome to bring blankets and lawn chairs to relax and the enjoy the music and picnic baskets are also allowed but food vendors will be available at the park.
“We’ll have great food,” Stewart said. “There will be barbecue, rib plates, fried green tomatoes, corndogs, hamburgers and hot dogs.”
Kids can participate in games, do crafts, pet animals at the petting zoo, visit with clowns and have their faces painted.
“We have lots of stuff for children this year,” Stewart said. “We probably have more children’s things than ever.”
Special Arts in the Park T-shirts were created by local artist Randy Nguyen and will see for $10, Stewart said.
Arts in the Park is sponsored by The Weracoba-St. Elmo Preservation Society, which was started to raise public awareness of the Historic Park District, which includes Weracoba/Lakebottom parks, as well as Wildwood Park and the St. Elmo area.
Proceeds from Arts in the Park go back into a fund for the next year’s event, Stewart said.
