Ballyhoo Fine Arts Fest adds day, moves to shores of Lake Shelby

Ballyhoo Fine Arts Fest adds day, moves to shores of Lake Shelby
March 7-8 celebration of fine art & culture will include banjo & fiddle competition

More than 60 artists from Alabama and surrounding states will feature their fine art work at the Ballyhoo Fine Arts Festival, March 7-8, in Gulf Shores at the Gulf State Park just across from the beautiful Gulf of Mexico. Artists will showcase a variety of work ranging from handcrafted jewelry, woodwork, acrylic, pastel, watercolor and oil paintings, metal art, and pottery. Ballyhoo is presented by the Gulf Coast Arts Alliance, a non-profit entity in Gulf Shores. Ballyhoo has expanded into a two day event and will feature a celebration of culture with performances by the Poarch Creek Indians and a Fiddle and Banjo Competition presented in partnership with Flora-Bama and the Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival. There will be local entertainment, delicious food, and an assortment of arts and crafts vendors. Ballyhoo is a juried event and will offer over $2,500 in prizes. The event will take place March 7 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will continue March 8 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Gulf State Park, 20115 State Hwy. 135 in Gulf Shores. There is no admission fee. Shuttles will be available from the Gulf State Pier.
Ballyhoo for Children and Families
The Ballyhoo Fine Arts Festival is a fun-filled event for the whole family. The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo will have exotic animals onsite providing a wonderful learning experience for children and adults. Children’s Art Tents will offer hands-on experience allowing children to let their creativity flow.
Cultural Exchange with Poarch Creek Indians
The Ballyhoo Festival will feature original tribal dance by the Poarch Creek Indians from Poarch, Alabama. The Poarch Band of Creek Indians are descendents of a segment of the original Creek Nation, which once covered all of Alabama and Georgia. Unlike many southeastern Indian tribes, the Poarch Creeks were not removed from their tribal lands, and have lived together for over 150 years. The Poarch are the only federally recognized tribe in the State of Alabama. They will provide historical narrative and will perform original tribal dance in ceremonial regalia. Their performances will be at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. on March 7 at the Ballyhoo Festival.
Ballyhoo Fiddle and Banjo Competition
The Ballyhoo Fine Arts Festival is enhancing the offering of cultural exchange by adding an early Americana flare to the festival. Ballyhoo has partnered with Flora-Bama and the Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival to present a Fiddle and Banjo Competition on Sunday, March 8 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and $1,500 in cash prizes will be awarded. Youth and adults are free to enter. Applications can be found at ballyhoofestival.org or at Flora-Bama, 17401 Perdido Key Dr, Pensacola, FL 32507.