The Buckhead Spring Arts and Crafts Festival Saturday and Sunday will feature 200 local and regional artists and handcrafters showcasing their works for sale.

The event will be located along the entire shady street of Park Drive in Chastain Park. Hours will be 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Proceeds from the on-site beverage sales will be donated to the not yet city approved Chastain Dog Park.

“The festival has a very bohemian, relaxed vibe to it,” said Randall Fox, creative director/ co-founder of Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces, which is putting on the event. 

The AFFPS and its board is made up of artists that helped develop the event around what artists want in a local show venue. “We have many talented Georgia artists who want the opportunity to showcase their arts and crafts, but may not always get the opportunity to do so at other local festivals. This show is developed by artists for artists and offers a diverse range of creative artistic disciplines,” said Fox.

Expect to see painters, photographers, sculptors, leather and metal-craft artists, glass blowers and jewelers.

Isea Designs, an artisan jewelry exhibitor showing freshwater pearl, leather and sterling necklaces, lariats and bracelets, participated at last year's inaugural festival.

The designer, Carolina Isea said, “I am looking forward to participating in this year’ s show. It was a great show in 2010 and we had a strong turnout of people and diverse groups of artists.”

Select artists and crafters will also be demonstrating how they create their works, from making beaded jewelry to weavers spinning wool and weaving it to produce colorful scarves.

For the kids, various hands-on art activities will be offered at the Children’s
Arts Center, located on the West Wieuca Road side of the park. Binders Arts
Center will offer a free hand-painted tile workshop. There will also be lots of
inflatable amusements.

For food offerings, don’t expect corn dogs and funnel cakes. Instead, fresh fruit salads, pizza from an on-site wood burning  oven, fresh crepes and other homemade goodies are on the menu.

“We wanted to create an alternative event which offers a variety of healthy food choices, " Fox said. "This was just one of many goals we had in mind when developing this show. The other was to give back to the community through art,” said Fox.

On the entertainment front, Divas with a Cause, a fund-raising collaboration of female vocalists, will be performing, along with rockabilly, rock and drum and brass performances.

“We expect a big turnout this year and have added many new activities to the
Children’s Art Cente," Fox said. "Last year's festival drew 25,000 visitors over the two-day event. With plenty of free parking, a canopy of shady trees to keep attendees and exhibitors cool, this year’s festival is expected to be another big success.”

The Buckhead Spring Arts and Crafts Festival will be held on Park Drive, between Stella Drive and Dudley Drive.