Arts and Crafts Festival to Feature Artists, Nonprofits

Close to 40,000 people could to descend on Paulding County next weekend for the Paulding Meadows Arts and Crafts Festival.

In its 32^nd year, the event at is expected to feature 230 vendors with crafts like pottery, jewelry, fine arts, fabric crafts and metal, among others.

“We wanted to provide the means for local artists and crafters to have a way to display and sell their merchandise here,” said Dee McClain, exhibitor committee chairman.

While McClain said preference is given to local craftsmen, this year, vendors will hail not only from states surrounding Georgia, but also from New York, Arizona and Oklahoma.

“I love meeting and working with the people,” McClain said. “You meet so many different people from many different places.”

Although the June 1 deadline to submit applications for the invitation-only event has passed, McClain said applications still will be accepted for the unusual, unique items.

“If you will demonstrate your craft, that is a plus,” she said.

While the event is a way for local artists to display their crafts, it is also a fundraiser for 11 local nonprofits, including the Paulding County Chapter of ABWA, Paulding County Rotary Club, Paulding County Math Teachers, Paulding County 4-H, the Dallas Women’s Club and three high school band booster programs. The organizations are required to send representatives to plan and help out at the event. In return, they split admission fees.

“We wanted a way for local non-profit organizations to have a fundraiser that would involve the whole community,” McClain said.

In addition, the sponsoring organizations have first dibs on the 20 food concession booths. Any unclaimed space then is opened up to other local nonprofits.

In past years, 30,000 to 38,000 people attended the two-day festival. The event will be held on Saturday, Sept. 10 from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; and on Sunday, Sept. 11, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Parking is free. Gate admission is $3, and those 12 and under are admitted free.