Sandy Springs Festival Begins Sept. 23

SANDY SPRINGS, GA -- Organizers are putting the final touches on the Sandy Springs Festival, which will bring two days of family-friendly fun and community celebration to the city.

The festival, set for Sept. 23-24, is presented by Heritage Sandy Springs and, for the first time in its 32-year history, will be free of charge.

"We are very excited to be able to present the festival for free for the first time ever, and we are truly grateful for the support of our very generous sponsors and community partners," said Sarah Poland, director of marketing and community events at Heritage Sandy Springs (SIGN UP: Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app).

Festival attendees can expect to see their favorite traditions, such as the Pet Parade, the Lightning 10K/5K and the return of the Car Show. Poland some changes to the festival's layout will allow youngsters to enjoy an expanded Children's Park. They've also expanded the Man Cave, and have included a 'Man's Best Friend Cave.'

"We are especially excited about the Artist Market since we’re working with a new company, Splash Festivals, for the first time," she added. "A lot of hard work goes into this community event and (we) can’t wait to see everyone enjoying it.”

The festival will run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 and Sunday, Sept. 24 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. No smoking, outside beverages, solicitation or personal mobility devices (unless required for medical purposes) will be allowed inside the festival. Leased pets are allowed and "encouraged," Heritage Sandy Springs said.

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The Sandy Springs Festival is held at Heritage Green at 6075 Sandy Springs Circle and the surrounding area. The community should be aware of the following road closures:

• Sandy Springs Place from Sandy Springs Circle to Blue Stone Road: from 10 a.m. Sept. 22 to 10 p.m. Sept. 24)
• Sandy Springs Circle from Mt. Vernon Hwy to south of Sandy Springs Place: from 2 p.m. Sept. 22 to 10 p.m. Sept. 24.
• Hilderbrand Drive from Sandy Springs Circle to Blue Stone Road: from 2 p.m. Sept. 22 to 10 p.m. Sept. 24
• Access to businesses will still be permitted from Roswell Road until 6 p.m.
• Blue Stone Road: both lanes of Blue Stone Road will remain open

Free parking, with shuttle service provided by Cooper Global & the city of Sandy Springs, is available at the following locations (look for color coded banners). Parking at City Walk, which is anchored by Kroger, is strictly prohibited and towing is enforced.

*Note: This shuttle will pick up and drop off on the back lower level of the parking deck on the Boylston Road side.

The closest MARTA stop is the Dunwoody station, which is 1.6 miles away. Passengers can take the #5 Sandy Springs or the #76 Roswell Road bus. Both drop passengers at Hilderbrand Drive and Roswell Road, one block east of the festival entrance on Hilderbrand Drive and Blue Stone Road.

Here's a quick rundown of what the 2017 festival will offer:

Artist Market: The Artist Market features work and exhibits from 120 of the best artists in the southeast and beyond, in a variety of media including painting, clay, jewelry, photography, printmaking, wood, and mixed media. Now managed by Splash Festivals, the Artist Market will showcase art that is finely crafted, colorful, whimsical, and fun. There will be many new talented artists, as well as returning favorites.

Entertainment Stage: The Sandy Springs Society Entertainment Lawn and Main Stage will feature a wide range of performances including community groups and demonstrations, vocal and instrumental acts from local schools, and professional bands. On Sunday, the stage will welcome local amateur groups who will be competing in a Battle of the Bands. The full lineup is posted at sandyspringsfestival.com.

Sandy Springs Lightning 10K/5K: The USATF-certified race serves as the official kick-off to the Sandy Springs Festival with its 8:00 a.m. start on Saturday, September 23. The fast-paced races are held on a beautiful, tree-lined residential course along Mt. Vernon Highway, with prizes awarded to top finishers in various categories. A Peachtree Road Race qualifier. Register now at sandyspringslightning.com.

Pet Parade: Pets of all shapes and sizes will parade through the Festival Saturday morning, sporting creative and crazy costumes. A Festival tradition since 1987, the Pet Parade is free to enter, with prizes awarded in a variety of categories including “most unusual pet,” “owner/pet lookalike” and “celebrity impersonator." This year’s parade is again hosted by Angels Among Us Pet Rescue. Day-of registration is available between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m.

ArtSS Chalk Walk: Watch the chalk fly as Art Sandy Springs presents the annual ArtSS Chalk Walk. Debuting in 2012, the Chalk Walk is an art competition for individual or team artists. Artists may register in advance online or in person the day of. There is a $10 per square registration fee which includes complimentary chalk. All Sandy Springs Festival goers are encouraged to "Walk the Chalk" throughout the day to see each masterpiece as it takes shape.

Children's Park: Children will delight in their designated areas with special activities chosen especially for them, including inflatables, classic rides, hands-on crafts, face painting, a petting zoo, and pony rides. The Children's Park will also feature an appearance by legendary Harlem Globetrotter Michael Douglas, giant bubbles from Sweet Pea the clown, and gymnastics fun from Jump Start Gym. Some rides and activities are ticketed.

Car Show: The 2017 Sandy Springs Festival will feature the return of the ever-popular Car Show! Held on Saturday, the Car Show will feature classic, custom, exotic, and hot rod vehicles. Basic hospitality is included, and prizes will be given for People's Choice. The show will be held in the lower lot of the Sandy Springs United Methodist Church Activities Center.

Man Cave: Featuring a tailgate zone with football viewing and beer on tap, smoked treats from Williamson Bros BBQ, lawn games from Atlanta Sport & Social Club, video games from Battle & Brew, bourbon tastings from JR Revelry, visitors from the Talladega Superspeedway, and more, the Man Cave is THE place to be. Don't worry, ladies are welcome too, and there will even be a special area for man's best friend.

Heritage Sandy Springs Museum: Explore Sandy Springs Gazette LIVE, which explores community life in Sandy Springs through the decades. This exhibit brings the popular online magazine to life with new stories, images, and artifacts. You can even pick up your very own print version of the first 52 articles. Watch as crafters demonstrate time-honored traditions, and learn about local history with lectures by local historian Clarke Otten. We will also premiere our brand new exhibit, L'Chaim Sandy Springs: A Toast to Jewish Participation in our city.

Business/Civic Expo: The Sandy Springs community is thriving and bustling! Browse through booths from local businesses and civic organizations that showcase their services. View the full list of participants at www.tinyurl.com/ssfmap2017.

Food Court: The Optech Food Court includes a variety of options from local vendors and food trucks, from salty to sweet. Choose from a variety of offerings by local restaurants and traditional festival fare from regional vendors. Beer, wine, soda, and water will also be available for purchase, with proceeds benefitting Heritage Sandy Springs. Visit the festival’s online map for a full list of food vendors and their menus.

City of Sandy Springs Zone: The City Zone introduces Festival attendees to our Police, Fire, Hospitality and Tourism, and Recreation departments. Kids will delight in exploring emergency service vehicles, and a friendly rivalry ensues between Police and Fire as to who has the best giveaways!

50/50 Raffle: As you may know, the Sandy Springs Festival has historically served as the largest annual fundraiser for Heritage Sandy Springs. Help raise money for this community non-profit organization, while also trying your own luck with the 50/50 raffle! Winning tickets will be drawn at the end of the day on Saturday, September 23 and Sunday, September 24. In addition to the grand prize - half the entire pot! - extra prizes such as gift certificates will be given as well.

For more information, visit the organization's website, Facebook page or email events@heritagesandysprings.org.

Image via Heritage Sandy Springs