Festival in the park

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

ince 1964, Festival in the Park has been bringing good music, good art and good times to Charlotteans and visitors from around the world. The sounds of "big band music" drift across Freedom Park's lake whose still surface reflects the lights strung from Camelot exhibit tents.

The scents of a variety of food fill the air, as small children with painted faces happily produce their first art work. Others find the many talented artists who can create an original work of art to grace their home or to give as the perfect gift.

• Festival in the Park has been ranked as one of the Top 200 Festivals in the entire U.S. by Sunshine Artists Magazine.
• Festival in the Park is a non-profit organization, which relies on public and private donations for funding of its operations.
• The Festival offers interactive, educational and hands-on opportunities for all children.
• Except for one full-time office employee and several seasonal employees, the Festival is produced by volunteers and the co-operation of Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation.
• Volunteering at Festival is a great way to fulfill Community Service Hours required by many schools and businesses.
• Historically, Festival in the Park visitors typically exceed 100,000 visitors each year.
• Seventy-two percent of the Festival-goers live within Charlotte's city limits.
• Seventy-seven percent have come back from a previous year; fourteen percent interviewed have attended for twenty years.
• Exhibiting artists compete for cash prizes and ribbons.
• A majority of the artists who participate are from the Charlotte area and have won many awards on the national level at other festivals.
• Some artists come from as far away as Washington State and this year over 21 states are represented.
• Festival in the Park needs you to bring your special talent and participate as an artist, performer or as one of the many volunteers!