Festival-In-The-Park Coming This Weekend!
Readers, we’ve got a lot of good fun comin’ up this weekend … and ya don’t wanna miss a minute of it! For the 43rd straight year, the famous Festival In The Park, will be up and running from Thursday to Sunday in Freedom Park.
This mix of art, fun, music and more has been a tradition in this city since 1964, and enjoys one of the highest attendances of any festival in the Piedmont. For years, first as a young teen, then with kids of my own, I’ve made a point to be at the park on Festival days — and have always been amazed by the different license-plates you’ll see (Once, I even saw one from Hawaii, and, for days, wondered how it got here!).
There are some exciting things to see this year: The kids’ area is twice the size that it was last year, with more inflatables, a climbing wall, train rides, and, for the first time, Ferris Wheels! The pony rides are still there, in a shaded area nearby.
You’ll find live entertainment on five different stages this go-’round, with some regional “biggies” boogeyin’ each night: On opening night, you’ll have big band and swing music by Doug Burns and the From the Top Big Band. Friday, you’ll get down with Latino rock by a group called Peralta. Saturday, you’ll be revisiting the Sixties with the Beatlesque Spongetones, and Sunday you can shag to the beach music of the Catalinas.
Naturally, you’ll have the famous Art Walk, where some of the best local artists display their talents, loads of food, and … well, ya just gotta come down (or up, or over) and join us!
Now, remember: Ya can’t have pets in the park, skates or skateboarding or bicycles (unless you’re just walkin’ ‘em through) and, folks, remember: This is a family event, so NO ALCOHOL!.
The Festival’s gonna run from 6-10 p.m. Thursday (that’s when crowds are smallest, so you can get more out of it, I’ve learned), 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday.
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