The annual festival will be held in Piedmont Park on Sept. 17 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sept. 18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The event is free and open to all ages. It will bring together outstanding artists from all over the country and will feature 200 of the country’s finest painters, photographers, sculptors, glass blowers and more. There will also be artist demonstrations, classes and live entertainment. Scheduled to perform are Todd Wells, Amy Gerhartz, Sam Thacker, Wade in the Rhythm, AIA, James Arthur, Zydeco T, JK & The Lost Boys and The Whiskey Gentry.

Food will be provided by Williams Bros. Barbecue, Bayou Bistro, The Pup Truck, S&J’s Woodfired Pizza, Rumtastic and many more.

Festival organizers are encouraging visitors to take MARTA to the park, since there will be limited parking in Sage Parking Deck and the Woodruff Arts Center parking deck. Visitors are strongly discouraged from parking on the streets of neighborhoods around the park. For more information, visit atlantaartsfestival.com.

Collin Kelley is the executive editor of Atlanta Intown, Georgia Voice, and the Rough Draft newsletter. He has been a journalist for nearly four decades and is also an award-winning poet and novelist.