TIFTON, GA  --  There are more days to fall in love with the arts during the 24th Annual Love Affair Fine Arts Festival.  This premier fine arts festival in South Georgia will be held April 29 through May 2.  The marketplaces for artists and crafters will open Friday at noon, go all day Saturday and from noon until 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.

The celebration of the arts commences with James Newton and Friends offering mellow jazz in the Myon Courtyard downtown on Thursday night.  A family oriented live performance is slated for the Tift Theatre also on Thursday night.

The Fine Arts and Creative Crafts Markets will be held among the tall pines of the 31-acre Fulwood Park.   The annual parade begins at 6:00 p.m.  Local talent will be showcased in the Dance Extravaganza on Friday night in the park.

The Fine Arts Market features oils, acrylics, pastels, watercolors, mixed media, drawing, graphics, pottery, photography, sculpture and fine crafts including wood, fiber, baskets, metal, glass and jewelry making.  The Creative Crafts Market offers wood, fiber, baskets, jewelry, metal, glass, needlework and candles. 

Stages located throughout the park will host a variety of performing arts from classical to country to gospel.   One stage is dedicated to children’s entertainment.  Boys and girls also can participate in numerous hands-on art activities.  International music and dance bringing sights and sounds from distant lands is a pinnacle of the stage performances.

A picnic and concert are planned for Saturday night.  The Georgia Satellites playing the tunes of the early 80’s along with the Conch Republic creating sounds of the islands will entertain after a time of picnicking.A wide variety of festival foods will be offered around the park throughout the weekend.

All events of the four days, except the picnic-concert, are free to the public.  The picnic-concert is a fundraising element of the festival. 

Tifton is conveniently located on I-75 where US 82, US 319 and US 41 intersect.  You’ll find excellent lodging accommodations along with the community’s 72 restaurants, which offer a good mix between popular chains and homegrown delights.  Celebrate the arts and stay for the weekend.

For more information contact the ABAC Arts Station at 229-386-3558 or go to www.abac.edu/arts.