Sponsored by the Mentone Area Arts Council and the Mentone Area Preservation Association, Colorfest celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2012 and is envisioning this year to be one of the best and most attended event in its history. On Saturday and Sunday, over 70 premier artists and craftsmen offering oil paintings, photography, soft and hard sculptures, wood turning and rustic furniture, pottery, forged and cut iron work, wearable art, and jewelry will be situated in and around Brow Park for those in search of one of kind artwork.
The two-day event kicks off at 7 p.m. on Friday at the Mentone Inn Pavilion with a bonfire, plenty of good eats by Moon Lake School, and live entertainment featuring Fort Payne’s Dooley’s Blue Review.
The festivities get underway on Saturday with live music beginning at 9 a.m. at Brow Park. DayDreamers, Jason Rogers, Three By Grace, Jess Goggans Band, and Chris Hale are all slated to perform. Headlining the 30th annual event is Kozmic Mama, a soul, rock, and blues band from Huntsville, Ala., who will get the crowd rockin’ at 7 p.m. In between musical acts, a dramatic white dove release is set for 12:30 p.m. at Brow Park to commemorate the 30th anniversary.
On Sunday, live music returns to the stage at 11 a.m. with a performance by the Dulcimer Club. Also slated to perform Sunday are The Clay States and Curtis Strange, and an open jam session will wrap the day up around 3 p.m.
Plenty of food will be available throughout the weekend. A Catfish Fry hosted by One World Travel is set for 4-6 p.m. on Saturday behind the Mentone Inn. On Sunday, get the morning started with a pancake breakfast at the Mentone Inn Pavilion.
Additional activities include a Business Festival where festival goers can learn more about local businesses and an interactive children’s area featuring a variety of barnyard animals from in and around Mentone. Barnyard favorites such as Tennessee Fainting Goats, miniature horses, rabbits, alpacas, and chickens made famous by “Diary of a Chicken Lady” in Mentone’s Groundhog newspaper will take center stage as children make their way through a handful of interactive activities and art projects. A representative of the DeKalb Bantam Association will display and sell a plethora of fancy chickens with top hats, feathered feet, and beautiful plumage and the Animal Resources Center will also be on hand offering pet adoptions in the children’s area.
Tickets to win a beautiful handmade quilt made and donated by member of Mentone Area Preservation Association will be sold throughout the weekend with the winner to be announced on Sunday at 4 p.m.
Brow Park is located off of Alabama Highway 117, north at the caution light in Mentone. All activities are held rain or shine and festival goers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and picnic blankets, and to have camera in hand for photo opportunities with the dove release and a cute barnyard scene in the children’s area. Admission is free.
“Colorfest is held annually the third weekend in October to showcase the area’s spectacular fall foliage,” said John Dersham, executive director of DeKalb Tourism. “Small bursts of orange, red, and yellow are beginning to emerge throughout Lookout Mountain, and if you combine the colorful foliage with activities offered during Colorfest and lodging at one of our quaint bed and breakfasts or cabins, you will have the makings of a perfect weekend getaway.”
For more information on Colorfest or on additional things to do in and around DeKalb County, contact the DeKalb Tourism at 888.805.4740 or visit www.DiscoverLookoutMountain.com.
