With more than 150 fine artists, performers, various foods from different countries and a children’s area, the annual Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival will be in downtown Augusta Sept. 20-22.
This year, there will be headline performances by platinum-selling Austin, Texas alt-rock band Fastball on the Global Stage on Saturday and Jazz Sensation Georgia Muldrow on the Jazz Stage. Acclaimed Atlanta puppeteer Lee ‘That Puppet Guy’ Bryan will be featured on the family stage.
Fastball’s 90s hits include “The Way” and “Out Of My Head.” The band includes guitarist Miles Zuniga, guitarist/singer Tony Scalzo, and drummer Joey Shuffield. In June, the band released “Sonic Ranch.”
Muldrow’s “Overload” album was nominated for a 2020 Grammy, and she’s collaborated with musicians such as Robert Glasper, Adrian Younge, Ambrose Akinmursire and Keyon Harrold.
The global food village is famous for its authentic taste of global cuisine and will tempt food lovers with 20 authentic cuisine booths including China, Cyprus, Greece, Germany, India, Ireland, France, Italy, Laos, Samoa, South Sudan, Sudan, Thailand, Vietnam, Korea, Lebanon, Trinidad, Philippines, Latin America and Jamaica, according to a news release.
Artzilla returns with local artists painting live all weekend. The Authors Lounge will feature Georgia authors and book signings.
This will be Brenda Durant’s last Arts in the Heart in an official capacity. She’s retiring after 27 years as the Greater Augusta Arts Council’s executive director.
Durant said she loves how the festival comes together each year with the teams of volunteers each working separately on their own piece until the festival time.
“It’s like a big quilt. On the weekend, we sew it all together,” she said.
Foot traffic is estimated at more than 100,000 people, but people are often counted more than once.
“A lot of people come more than one time. They come on Friday and come back on Saturday. They look at a piece of art, go home, kook at fireplace and then come back and buy the art. They get counted three times,” she said.
Limited edition 2024 Festival Merchandise will also be available, including a new 2024 collectible Arts in the Heart Festival Teddy Bear.
Festival badges are $15 in advance and $20 at the gate. Children 10 and under are free. Admission is good for the entire weekend. Pets and coolers are not allowed in the Festival. Lawn chairs are welcomed. Arts in the Heart of Augusta is a rain or shine event.
The shutdown of streets related to the festival began Tuesday. The following streets will be closed through the festival – Albion and Broad Street 8th Street from Ellis to Broad; 9th Street next to the Board of Education from Ellis to Broad; Broad Street from 6th Street to 10th Street; McCartan from Broad to Jones; 9th Street from Broad to Jones. Closures include all parking wells on Broad Street from 6th Street to 10th Street. Beginning Friday, one lane of eastbound traffic on Reynolds Street will close from 8th to 9th Street.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years and is a Georgia Press Association award winner. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
