VALDOSTA – The Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts will host its 9th Annual ARToberfest this Saturday, October 24, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The popular community festival will take place on the Turner Center for the Arts Campus, offering a day of art, entertainment, and family-friendly activities for residents and visitors. This annual event celebrates National Arts and Humanities Month, aiming to showcase the talent of local and regional artists while highlighting the arts’ meaningful impact on community life in Valdosta and Lowndes County.
Attendees can explore an Art Park filled with dozens of fine arts vendors, providing artists an opportunity to share their creativity, connect with the community, and grow their businesses. The festival provides free admission to all six facilities across the Turner Center Campus during the event. This includes the newest addition, the Meta Shaw Coleman Children’s Imagination Station, alongside the Annette and Derry Crosby Art Annex, Richard Hill Glass Studio, and the Dugald and Leona Hudson Pottery Studio. Visitors are invited to explore these galleries and creative spaces.
The Imagination Station requires pre-registration, which includes a waiver for each participant entering the facility. This process also involves signing up for scheduled time slots to ensure all interested parties have an opportunity to experience the Station’s offerings. The family-friendly atmosphere extends throughout the campus with a variety of free youth activities, professional face painting, trackless train rides, and pumpkin painting. The Fifth Day Farm Petting Zoo will also be on site, adding another interactive element for younger attendees.
For artists aged 18 and older, the annual Plein Air painting contest offers a chance to compete for cash prizes. First place will receive $1,000, second place $500, and third place $250. Plein Air check-in for contestants begins at 9 a.m. at the Annette & Derry Crosby Art Annex, with winners announced at 1:30 p.m. inside the Turner Center main galleries. Live art demonstrations will also be held throughout the day, allowing festivalgoers to observe creative processes firsthand.
Musical entertainment will feature two live acts. 2RiverStation is scheduled to perform from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., followed by John Gragg from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. A variety of food and beverage vendors will be available on campus. Food trucks confirmed for the event include Bakers BBQ, Kona Ice, The Crew Sips & Stacks, Victoria’s on the Go, and Zig Zag Mediterranean, offering a range of culinary options.
The 9th Annual ARToberfest is supported by several sponsors dedicated to promoting arts and community engagement. These include Ben Blanton of Blanton & Griffin Insurance Agency, the Center for the Arts Guild, Georgia Council for the Arts, Lamar Advertising, Mala Vallotton, Meta Shaw Coleman Children’s Imagination Station, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Public Art Advisory Committee (PAAC), Sally Turner Querin, the Regional Artists Community (RAC), The Valdosta Daily Times, Valdosta Magazine, and Winn Dixie.
Ample parking will be available adjacent to each of the Turner Center’s facilities, accessible from North Patterson, North Ashley, and Webster Streets. For a complete event schedule and additional information about ARToberfest, residents can call 229-247-2787 or visit the turnercenter.org website.
