This Labor Day, Veterans Park in Collegedale will transform into an art gallery with everything from high art to handmade crafts at the second annual Arts in the Park Festival.
Local artists display their work at last year's Arts in the Park Festival. This year's festival will feature high art, student art, handmade crafts and everything in between."It's going to look a lot like if part of the Chattanooga Market were moved to Veterans Park," said Chattanooga Market marketing and public relations director Melissa Siragusa, which is producing the festival this year. "There will be tents, tons of artwork, live music and lots of food."
According to festival co-chair Suzanne Burrell, this year's festival will feature professional work, student work, food vendors and a stage with several groups performing throughout the day.
Siragusa said the festival has reached out to all Hamilton County schools, private schools and home school groups with grades six through 12 and invited them to submit student work for the festival, which will be juried by representatives from the Association for Visual Arts. First, second and third place will be awarded to each grade level. For each first place ranking at the festival, the student's school will receive $100 awards for their art departments, said Siragusa.
Burrell said the festival is one way the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce Ooltewah-Collegedale Council is working to bring business to the area. The council created the event last year and is helping sponsor it this year.
"One of our major goals is to increase economic development in the council footprint," she said.
In addition to providing a day of free family fun, Siragusa and Burrell agree the festival will be a great way to bring people from outside Collegedale to the area and showcase its natural beauty as well as viability as a business community.
For more information visit www.artsintheparkfestival.com.