COBB

Marietta

City to host Art in the Park Sept. 1-3

The 32nd annual Marietta Art in the Park will take place 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 1-3 in Glover Park on the Historic Marietta Square, 50 N. Park Square, Marietta.

With an expected attendance of 45,000 visitors, the city-sponsored Art in the Park will offer free festival admission and showcase more than 175 fine artists, the Chalk Spot, a children’s art area, an art gallery tour, food trucks and family entertainment.

For the second year, Art in the Park will include the One Piece Project, an art benefit for nonprofit organizations - this year including the “Inspired by the heArt” exhibition and Keep Marietta Beautiful.

The “Inspired by the heArt” show, an event that began in 2013, allows Cobb County students with mild to severe intellectual disabilities to create, celebrate and display their artistic skills. Last year, more than 200 students participated in the event.

The Marietta Square Art Gallery Tour is a self-guided walking tour through six galleries in and around the downtown area.

Open only 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 1, the Chalk Spot street art display will benefit the Marietta High School Art Club. Participation is $10 per person (for applications postmarked by Aug. 17) and $15 each after Aug. 17. Art will remain on display through the festival (weather permitting).

A Children’s Art Alley is a free interactive “make-and-take” area.

In addition to local restaurants around the Marietta Square offering indoor and outdoor seating, Art in the Park will present Food Truck Row, featuring a variety of offerings.

Visitors can take a break, enjoy lunch from the surrounding restaurants or onsite food trucks and relax under an umbrella with a beverage while enjoying smooth tunes in the Music Café.

Free on-street parking will be available around the Marietta Square. Additional parking will be available in the nearby decks at Waddell and Lawrence Streets.

Since 2007, Art in the Park has been honored as a Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 Event, ranked in the Top 100 in the nation in the Classic and Contemporary Craft Shows by Sunshine Artist Magazine and earned awards from the Southeast Festivals & Events Association and the International Festivals & Events Association.

Festival map, Chalk Spot applications and more information: ArtParkMarietta.com

CAROLYN CUNNINGHAM FOR THE AJC

UPCOMING

  • Summer Concert Series by the Cobb County Library Foundation: jazz performers Will Scruggs and Masterpeace. 7 p.m. Friday. Free. Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center, 2051 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta. cobbcat.org
  • VOM Advance Conference by The Voice of the Martyrs. 8 a.m. registration, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Free. Burnt Hickory Baptist Church, 5145 Due West Road, Powder Springs. No childcare will be provided. Lunch is noon-1:15 p.m. on your own. Register: 800-747-0085, VOMadvance.com
  • Cobb Fishing Rodeo. 9-11 a.m. Saturday. Free. Hyde Farm Park, 726 Hyde Road, Marietta. The age divisions will be 3-6, 7-9, 10-12 and 13-16. Trophies will be awarded for the five biggest fish overall. Bring your fishing pole. John Purcell at 770-528-8825 or John.Purcell@CobbCounty.org