Each spring, thousands upon thousands of people visit the heart of the Rocket City to enjoy all the arts have to offer at the Panoply^® Arts Festival.  Are YOU one of them?

Well, be sure to join us Friday-Sunday, April 23 (5:00-9:00 p.m.), April 24 (10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.), & April 25 (Noon-8:00 p.m.), 2010 and DON’T miss out on the FUN as we celebrate the Huntsville tradition known as Panoply!  This year’s theme, in keeping with the Alabama Tourism Department’s “The Year of Alabama Small Towns and Downtowns,” is “Home is Where the heART Is!”  As usual, there will be a variety of new and exciting activities offered at the festival, as well as the welcome return of many Panoply favorites (follow the local media for our announcements!).

Nestled in downtown Huntsville’s Big Spring International Park , this family-friendly (we’re also a green and no-smoking event!) spectacular has evolved into The South’s Most All-Embracing ARTStravaganza, held annually the last full weekend of April.

Once there, you are surrounded by a kaleidoscopic array of talent and imagination…a true feast for all five senses!  And thanks to the hard work, time, and effort of our numerous Panoply volunteers, our friends in the media, the City of Huntsville, the Madison County Commission, and our generous sponsors, this community event is a success year after year, and only continues to GROW!

The Arts Council’s (TAC’s) goal is to give their community the best in theater, music, dance, artworks, and then some!  And that’s just what happens:  Panoply boasts choreography, “homegrown” talent, visual art, fiddling, photography, and playwright competitions; an ethnocultural exhibition; FREE children’s make-n-take activities; multiple stages featuring jazz, gospel, bluegrass, musical theater, a songwriter’s showcase, and kid-friendly performances (each spotlighting local, area, and regional performers); and the next grand addition to your art collection!  Then we top it off with a cornucopia of festival food and a majestic display of **fireworks** (Friday, 9:00 p.m.; Saturday, 9:00 p.m.; Sunday, 8:00 p.m.) in an inspiring celebration that entertains visitors of all ages.

Tickets (Panopasses) are only $5 per day or $10 per weekend!  They can be purchased in advance at our office, next to the Playhouse in the Von Braun Center.

The festival continues to be voted one of the Top Twenty Regional Events by the Southeastern Tourism Society.  In 2007, another feather was added to its cap when Gov. Bob Riley announced the outdoor phenomenon as one of the state’s Top Ten Tourism Events for the year.

The three-day, al fresco extravaganza features FREE hands-on activities in both the Kids Art Yard and the pavilions of Panoply’s unique Global Village.

Once in the art yard, several “workshops” will help uncover your child’s not-so-hidden inner artiste, including the Panoply Percussion Tent and the Stamp it Out! Tent (greeting card making)…and if an ear-to-ear smile isn’t enough, they can add to it at the Face-Painting Tent.  Continually a BIG hit, the Global Village highlights the traditions of multiple countries in a display that opens a doorway to our area’s diverse international culture – a very rare regional opportunity.

The Official Alabama State Fiddling Championship, Annual Choreography Competition, and the Homegrown Talent Contest provide significant outlets for aspiring and seasoned performers, while the 10-Minute Playwright Competition performances and Photography Competition breathe life into the words of playwrights nationwide and give flight to the visual inspiration of local photographers.

The Theatre Demo Tent immerses the audience in drama via improvisations, performances, and interactive “theatre sports” that provide hands-on, close-up experience for wannabe thespians.  Also featured is the Arts in ACTION! area, wherein artisans (airbrush, fiber art, woodcarving, ceramics, and more) create in real time, and Arts Central, which allows festivalgoers to interact with reps from TAC member organizations to acquire information on upcoming performances, workshops, exhibitions, and auditions, as well as to have a chance on winning one of the many door prizes donated by the groups.

Another huge attraction is the Art Marketplace.  From all over the country, fine artists (ranging from potters to jewelers to photographers) enter their one-of-a-kind works in hopes of winning “Best of Show”…and meeting interested buyers.  Speaking of which, don’t forget our Art Investor Program!  For those interested in beginning an art —or enhancing the treasure trove of pieces they already own—this allows connoisseurs a first chance to preview and purchase art before the marketplace is open to the festival public.

There are also many opportunities behind the scenes.  If you would like to become involved with Panoply by volunteering your time as a Committee Chairman, or if members of your organization want to join the gang of over 2,000 volunteers who bring the festival to life, please call Jon at (256) 519-ARTS (2787) or write us at tac@panoply.org.  Being a part of the Panoply team takes a lot of work and time, but the reward is in knowing that you are giving back to your community and making new friendships…and all while supporting THE ARTS!

So follow the excited crowds eagerly racing to downtown Huntsville, and we’ll see YOU at the 29^th Annual Panoply Arts Festival!