Sandy Springs Festival Returns Free Of Charge In September

SANDY SPRINGS, GA -- The Sandy Springs Festival is a popular, longstanding treat for those who wait all year to celebrate the community spirit of the city.

While the 32nd annual event promises to live up to those expectations, it will also provide something special to attendees. This year's two-day celebration will be presented free of charge to the community for the first time in its history.

The event will be held Saturday, Sept. 23 and Sunday, Sept. 24. Established in 1984 as Founders Day, the Festival has grown from a small picnic to the largest community event in Sandy Springs, drawing 20,000 attendees over two days.

This highly anticipated event offers a wide range of activities for all ages and backgrounds: unique artists and crafters, fun and entertaining children’s activities, chalk art competition, pet parade, 10k/5k races, musical performances, delicious food, and much more.

“Amidst the changing landscape in Sandy Springs, we are reminded that this is a city of constant growth and development,” said Carol Thompson, executive director of Heritage Sandy Springs. “Alongside this progress, we are happy to preserve celebrated community traditions like the Sandy Springs Festival but we, too, are looking to the future. Our vision is that of a vibrant, engaged community, and we are thrilled to announce that the 32nd Festival will be presented free of charge to our friends and neighbors for the first time ever.”

Heritage Sandy Springs will offset the loss of entry gate revenue through increased sponsorship opportunities, vendor fees, and other fundraising initiatives during the event itself.

Festival Director Sarah Poland added the organization is "lucky to have such dedicated community partners."

“Every year, local businesses and civic organizations not only enhance the experience for festival-goers, but also help to underwrite the costs associated with producing such a large-scale event," she added. "This year more than ever, we will be relying on financial contributions from area partners to help us present a successful and memorable festival for citizens and visitors to Sandy Springs."

The Sandy Springs Festival offers strong promotional, sampling, and branding opportunities during a community-focused weekend event. Tiered sponsorship opportunities are available for overall visibility and brand promotion, or businesses may elect to serve as the named sponsor of a particular area within the festival.

Sponsors will be automatically accepted and given priority booth placement. Businesses and civic organizations may apply for a pre-set number of booth spaces; acceptance is not guaranteed and there is limited availability per industry. More information about fees and guidelines, as well as online applications, can be found at www.sandyspringsfestival.com.

Food Court applications are also posted online via the festival’s website. Vendor applications are due by June 1. The late entry deadline is July 21, pending availability. The 2017 Artist Market is being managed by Splash Festivals, which does not have an official application process. You may submit your work for consideration by emailing splashfestivals@gmail.com. All applications require a non-refundable fee.

For more information, visit www.sandyspringsfestival.com or contact the Festival Director at events@heritagesandysprings.org.

Image via Heritage Sandy Springs