The DeLand Outdoor Art Festival

The DeLand Outdoor Art Festival: The 59th annual festival will be held March 23 and 24 at Earl Brown Park, 815 S. Alabama Ave. Admission is free. Fine artists from throughout the Southeast will be competing for thousands of dollars in cash prizes and awards. The festival offers a craft section with items for sale ranging from handmade jewelry, clothing, soaps, infused products, to carved wooden toys. Festival planners believe the event will attract more than 135 artists and crafters. More than 6,000 spectators came to the festival during its two-day event last year. As usual, country, folk, bluegrass, blues and other musical performances will be going on throughout this year’s festival. Entertainers will be on stage between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Food ranging from Greek salads to popcorn, Bar-B-Q, Kettle Korn to Home Made Ice Cream and much, much more to tempt and satisfy your pallet. Festival goers are encouraged to sign up in the information booth for the Spectator drawing of $100 to be spent on fine art & crafts. The drawings are held every hour both days from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. Meanwhile, The West Volusia Beacon newspaper will continue its tradition of sponsoring the Youth Division of the festival. Casey Marshall, a local graphic designer, is sponsoring the division. The division features artwork from students throughout West Volusia. Other sponsors include: City of DeLand; the DeLand Department of Parks and Recreation; Tinker Graphics and the Florida Department of Transportation.