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A Look Back at Canton's Awesome 2017 Festival of the Arts

Of all the things to do in Canton GA, the Canton Festival of the Arts ranks in the top five. The Cherokee County Arts Council stages one of the best fine arts and fine crafts festivals in the southeast during the third weekend of May in Brown Park, located in downtown Canton. It’s their major fundraiser for the year, and it usually draws 5000 – 7000 people throughout the weekend.

But arts and crafts aren’t the whole story behind this production. Canton Festival of the Arts has festival food vendors (it’s not a festival without funnel cakes, hotdogs and BBQ, right?), organized by Will Carlan. Live music — all day, both days, perfectly orchestrated by Sean Furilla. An activity and crafts area for children was organized by Marcelle Strong, along with a youth artist market of rising artists.

Saturday, there was a literary celebration with well-known authors from all over the southeast participating in discussion panels, thanks to Board President Carmen Slaughter. A well shaded wine and beer garden, staffed and donated by local restaurants, was the perfect spot to eat, sip, and enjoy the music while taking a break between bursts of shopping. Rebekah Shelnutt planned and organized Serenity Gardens, which promotes the art of living well through natural skin products, local honey, artisanal and organic foods and ornamental plants. And, of course, the artists market itself — coordinated by Jessica Sexton and Dana Vaccaro-Lee — showcased the unique talents of sixty artists.

Behind-the-scenes work began in early winter with all of the previously mentioned people coordinating their divisions while Mary Ursits sought sponsors, and Kim Bates handled the advertising for the event. All of this and the help of fifty volunteers to set up, tear down, carry products for the artists, booth sit for vendors if they needed a break, attend the gates, take out the trash, take water to everyone, point the way and give directions made for a successful event.

This year, as it is every year, the artful jewelry was stunning; some was kitschy, and all of it was handmade. There was purposeful pottery as well as whimsical pieces. Beautiful, carved wood bowls; oil, acrylic and watercolor paintings; metal and textile works are just a few of the many mediums represented. All of it was gorgeous!

Mark your calendars for May 19th and 20th, 2018, 10:00am-5:00pm. That is when the Canton Festival of the Arts will return.  Other great events in Canton include Gospel Fest, Riverfest, First Friday celebrations and A Novel Idea.

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