The 11th annual Effingham Artisan Fair gets underway tonight. For the two day event downtown Effingham will be filled with great art work, food, music, drinks, and fun. Effingham Tourism Director Jodi Thoele stopped by the studio to talk with News Director Tom Jamison about the event. Press play to hear the full interview. Additional information about the event is available below.
Come out Friday night and join the Effingham community for the “Arts & Hearts” celebration. We are again expanding to include an “Artist Soft Opening,” where a majority of the artists will display their art for the community one day early. From 5:00 to 8:00pm a variety of events will be held to raise awareness for the arts in the community, including a live art auction benefiting Community Support Systems (C.S.S.), not-for-profit community informational booths, Jansen’s Dance Performance and some great TREC activities. Jansen’s Dance will perform downtown to kick-off the event at 5:00pm on Fourth Street. TREC will also be sponsoring a Kids Bike Decorating Contest from 5:00pm – 5:30pm, Kids Bike Race from 5:30-5:45pm and then the ever-popular TREC Big Wheel Races from 5:45pm – 6:30pm. The C.S.S. Art Auction will begin at 6:30pm. Live music will then be from 7:30 – 10:00pm on Friday night and again on Saturday. In addition, we’ve brought back beer sampling to the ever-popular wine sampling event. This year you can look forward to walking the Courthouse Square while enjoy your samples of wine or beer. Friday evening will also include a food fair featuring Martin’s IGA, Wildfire Mobile Wood-Fired Pizza, Dad’s Smokin’ Butt BBQ and the Sausage Haus. The fair will also be offering some specialty food for all you food-lovers, including Oma Gisi’s German Bakery, The Cookie Jar and Tropical Sno both Friday and Saturday.
Come back downtown Saturday from 10:00am to 4:00pm for the Artisan Fair where downtown is transformed into an art gallery with works from over 40 artists, on display for purchase. The Sculpture on the Avenues outdoor exhibition will officially open this weekend too. Stop by the Information Booth for a Culture Guide and walk downtown and learn more about the beautiful sculptures in Effingham
Artwork for sale includes oil paintings, pottery, jewelry, and sculptures. Several artists will demonstrate their craft at the event.
As mentioned, as part of the event, the Artisan Fair features wine and beer sampling. There will be regional wineries and several different craft beers available for sampling. This event will open from 5:00pm – 10:00pm Friday and 12 – 5:00pm Saturday.
Other activities during the Artisan Fair on Saturday include the Effingham Public Library’s “Effing-HAM 5K,” Kids Korner, food fair, and live musical entertainment near the wine tent. The Effingham County Court House Museum will also be open both Friday evening and Saturday for tours.
The Effingham Central Business Group will again be sponsoring the “Downtown Spring Fling” from 10:00am to 3:00pm in conjunction with the fair.
Be sure to pick up your Passport to the Spring Fling at the Effingham Central Business Group booth (on the Courthouse lawn) before making your way downtown for a chance to win a gift basket full of gift cards and goodies valued at $300.
For more information about the Artisan Fair, phone 800-772-0750 or 217-342-5310. Also, visit www.effinghamartisanfair.com or their Facebook page “Effingham Artisan Fair.”