With construction on Broad Street, Arts in the Heart of Augusta is shifting closer to the Savannah River this year.
The award-winning festival will be located on the Augusta Common, Reynolds Street and by the river utilizing venues such as the Jessye Norman Amphitheatre Sept. 19-21.
Music will be a big focus again this year at the festival with special performances Sept 20 by Leon and the Peoples, an award-winning Reggae Soul band from NYC, led by internationally acclaimed performer, singer-songwriter, movie & TV actor Leon Robinson, according to a news release.
The Jazz Stage will be located at 8th Street Market Area Entrance to the Riverwalk and will feature the Pop and R&B Queen Niki Haris, former backup vocalist for Madonna who has performed with jazz greats like Stanley Turrentine, Red Holloway & Ray Charles. The popular Soul Suite Stage will be located inside the Augusta Marriott Hotel on the Riverwalk and will feature comedian Kerwin Claiborne.
Urban Guitar Legend Elliot Holden will perform on the Community Stage at the Jessye Norman Amphitheatre. Holden recently appeared in the Tyler Perry film “A Jazzman’s Blues.” The Family Stage will have lots of family-friendly performances including Piccadilly Puppets from Atlanta.
Festival stages will be booked all weekend with performances in dance, reggae, soul, spoken word, rock, pop, country and theater.
More than 150 artists from across the country have been selected for the juried Fine Arts and Crafts event.
The global food village is famous for its authentic taste of global cuisine and will tempt food lovers with 19 authentic cuisine booths. Food booths include China, Greece, Germany, India, Ireland, South Sudan, Sudan, Thailand, Vietnam, Korea, Lebanon, Trinidad, Philippines, Latin America, Jamaica, Turkey and Samoa.
The large Family Area will be packed with interactive children’s activities, street performers, public art and the annual Young Artists Market.
Advanced weekend passes are $15 and available online at ArtsintheHeartofAugusta.com. Children 10 and under are admitted free. Passes are good for the entire weekend. Badges at the gate are $20. Pets and coolers are not allowed; Lawn chairs are welcome.
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