The Heart of Albany Festival & Holiday Open House

The Heart of Albany Festival is back for its 9th year, featuring an array of free activities and entertainment! Through The Albany Museum of Art’s partnership with the City of Albany and the city’s Recreation and Parks Department, the festival will be hosted in a new location this year at Tift Park. This new spot will give the festival plenty of space for festivalgoers and artists alike to explore and immerse themselves in the creative atmosphere. One of the main attractions of this beloved event is the professional chalk artists, local amateur artists and groups who come from all over Georgia and the Southeast to create impressive works of art along the street. Along with creating incredible masterpieces, they’ll be competing for the Best of Show honors and bragging rights! Walking around the festival and watching these talented artists at their craft is truly one of the best parts of the event. You can check out past pro chalk artists and their creations by heading to the event page’s website!

From 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., the festival will have plenty of unique activities to check out, including artist demos, face painting, tie-dying your T-shirt, games, a bounce house, outdoor chalking and collaborative artmaking! A few of the demonstrations this year will feature local favorites such as the Hot Glass Academy, painters Kern Cunningham and Joseph Bryant and photographer James Malphrus. For some additional live entertainment, Musician Isaac Evans will take the stage during the morning and magician Evan Dupree will be on the ground performing some mind-bending tricks. Also joining the list of performers will be Ballet Theatre South and Theatre Albany, who are set to give festival-goers a special sneak peek of their upcoming December performances! Another highlight of the festival is the Vendor Village, which is the perfect place to get a head start on your holiday shopping and pick up a one-of-a-kind handmade gift. After working up an appetite from exploring and taking in the festival, head over to the Food Truck Court to refuel by grabbing a tasty bite or refreshment.

Taking place on the same day as the festival at the Albany Welcome Center will be a Holiday Open House! From 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the Welcome Center will host a few local artisans selling their products, perfect for getting some holiday shopping done early. There will also be two authors at the event for a special book signing experience and a kid's interactive corner where your little ones can make a post card for Santa! Swing by the Holiday Open House before or after The Heart of Albany Festival to make the most of your experience.

Mark your calendars now for November 7 so you don’t miss out on the excitement of experiencing The Heart of Albany Festival and the Holiday Open House! Whether you’re looking for some family-friendly fun, artistic inspiration or an opportunity to get your holiday shopping done early this year, both events promise an afternoon of festive fun and creativity.