`Barefoot in the Park` Arts Festival Celebrates 8th Year May 4-6

Written by Barefoot in the Park Arts Festival

Barefoot in the Park Arts Festival announces its 8th year of bringing arts, food, and fun for all ages to the Duluth Town Green on May 4, 5, and 6. This popular regional arts festival welcomed approximately 15,000 attendees last year, a record number. This year, there will be even more to see and experience.

Approximately 100 tents containing fine artwork of artists from across the Southeast and beyond will vie with a continuous schedule of musicians and dancers for visitor's attention. There will also be a Children's Art Tent, a Book Bistro, an Adult Learning Village, a Wine Tasting, and a Student Exhibition of artwork from Gwinnett schools. Organizers are diligently working on fine tuning these events and more.

Focus is being placed on two special components of Barefoot in the Park during these early planning stages. The first piece of good news is that the Barefoot Gala is returning after a hiatus of 2 years. Held on Friday, May 4th beginning at 6:30 p.m., this year's return will be titled "Carnevale," featuring decorations and entertainment from the joyous Italian festival tradition. During the Gala, there will be special events, one being the 2nd "Paper Dress Fashion Show." This fashion event will showcase glamorous outfits made from repurposed books and magazines from the Gwinnett Public Library.

The Gala will also feature fine food, wine and exciting performances, but it is the silent auction during the Gala that contributes to the second special component of the Barefoot Festival, its Scholarship Program.

The Barefoot in the Park Arts Festival Scholarship Program has awarded over $43,000 to area arts and educational organizations since the festival began. Money made through the Gala's Silent Auction and other income is put back into the community to ensure that Gwinnett's artists and students have what they need to thrive.

Last year's recipients were Aurora Theatre, Community Foundation of Northeast Georgia, Georgia Gwinnett College Foundation, Gwinnett Ballet Theatre, Hudgens Center for the Arts, and the Jay Shapiro Arts Education Scholarship. The total amount given last year to these groups was $11,000.

Barefoot's Executive Director Caryn McGarity says, "Our Festival is fun for the many families and individuals who attend. They get to see and do so much! But there is another reason we work so hard to create this exciting event. Giving back to our area arts organizations is one of our primary goals, which we do through our Scholarship Program. As a fellow non-profit organization, Barefoot in the Park feels the responsibility to support what it also showcases to the community-our arts."

Scholarship application forms will be available soon, and a separate alert will be sent to the media. Exciting details about artists, performers, writers, and other Barefoot events will also be announced as they are finalized. Watch for these details on our web site, www.barefootinthepark.org and be sure to join our Facebook Fanpage at http://www.facebook.com/#!/barefootinthepark10. You may also write This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 678-677-0172.