Finster Fest Is This Weekend
Grammy award-winning Art Rosenbaum, and the Barberic Yawps, bluegrass from Rome, Georgia, are the headlining acts at Finster Fest, this weekend May 26 and 27.
The Georgia Council for the Arts stage will be held in the Meditation Chapel, a small open-air chapel in Paradise Garden where Howard Finster once held services. One of three stages at this year’s Finster Fest, this stage will be featuring traditional mountain music by Georgia musicians. Saturdays line up at the Chapel stage starts off at 11 a.m. with John Grimm from Dahlonega, followed by Chris Ryan Casbarro from Rising Fawn at 1 p.m., and the Barber Yawps at 3 p.m. On Sunday morning there will be Gospel in the Meditation Chapel with Calhoun’s Joseph Evans at 11 a.m., followed by story-telling and traditional music with Pat Shields at 1 p.m., and Art Rosenbaum, an artist and musician from Athens, will close out the festival with a set of music at 3 p.m., and will be joined by guest musicians. There will be two other stages as well with various musicians performing throughout the weekend.
Finster Fest will feature more than 50 artists, live music, barbecue and other southern fare, a children’s art activity area, and, of course, the chance to tour Howard Finster’s famous folk art environment.
Finster Fest will feature nationally recognized self-taught artists including Missionary Mary Proctor (Florida), Michael Banks (Alabama), Peter Loose (Georgia), Deb “Miz Thang” Garner (Georgia) and C.M. and Grace Kelly Laster (Kentucky).
Hours for the family-friendly festival are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. both days. Admission is $5, with free parking at the Walmart on U.S. 27 just north of the garden, with complimentary shuttle provided. Handicap parking is available on site.
Proceeds from Finster Fest benefit the nonprofit Paradise Garden Foundation, which operates and continues restoration of Howard Finster’s 2-acre plus attraction.
Finster Fest launched in 1991 and is one of Summerville’s biggest annual events, drawing more than 1,700 guests mainly from the tri-state area of Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee. Look for updates at Howard Finster’s Paradise Garden on Facebook. More information on Paradise Garden visit online at www.paradisegardenfoundation.org, or call 706-808-0800, or stop by 200 N. Lewis St., Summerville, GA 30747
Howard Finster’s Paradise Garden Finster Fest Art Festival is this Saturday and Sunday, 11 am to 5 pm, at the historic Paradise Garden in Pennville. Finster Fest includes 60+ artists (folk to fine artist), three music stages and Southern food fare.
Free parking and shuttle from Walmart on Highway 27 1/2 north from Paradise Garden in Summerville. General admission is $5 and kids 12 and under get in free. Festival Hotline: 706.808.0800