From Staff Reports

The Montevallo Arts Council will celebrate spring with the 11th annual Montevallo Arts Fest in Orr Park on Saturday, April 22 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. In connection with the Forte Festival, this family-friendly arts show will have something for everyone to enjoy.

Approximately 60 artists will line the park to display and sell their work, ranging from fine arts to artisan and craft works. In addition to works for sale, there will be artists on hand to demonstrate their artwork throughout the day, including caricature artists Ed Abernathy and Kevin Van Hyning from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Children will have the opportunity to make a piece of art at the children’s creative corner, sponsored by the Montevallo Artwalk and UM Student Art Association. As part of the children’s creative corner, the UM Environmental Club will help kids make their own sailboat with their Sailing into Sustainability booth.

For the young and young at heart, Jessica Hamlin will be face painting from 1 to 3 p.m. Balloon artist Carl Carrier will be creating balloon animals from 3 to 5 p.m.

Festival food will include Lazy Boy BBQ, Rooski’s flatbreads, Kona Ice, Frios popsicles, Southern Snow & Concessions and more.

“Montevallo Arts Fest rolls around each year about the time that the weather has turned oh-so-perfect,” Local upcycling artist Rachel Daniel said. “As an artist, I love coming back to this show because it has the same outdoorsy vibe of upscale art festivals like Moss Rock and Magic City Art Connection, but in an atmosphere that is uniquely Montevallo. Orr Park is the perfect place to showcase our local talent and participating in this festival feels like an extended afternoon in the park, but with art!”

Entertainment adds to the festival’s atmosphere. The music line up for this year’s festival includes Brendan Young and the one-man-swing-band, Jim Quakenbush. This year’s event will also feature fight choreography by the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and Pop-up Shakespeare performed by UM Theatre students throughout the day.

Montevallo Arts Fest is one of the many events to be held in Montevallo on April 20-22 as part of the Forte Festival. The Forte Festival is a creative festival showcasing the interdisciplinary experience at UM and partnerships with the community, such as the Montevallo Arts Council.

For more information on Montevallo Arts Fest or to volunteer at the event, contact montevalloartscouncil@gmail.com.

For more information about the Forte Festival, go to Montevallo.edu/forte-festival.