12th arts festival Saturday

  • Posted: Friday, March 14, 2008 12:01 a.m.
    UPDATED: Thursday, March 22, 2012 11:44 a.m.
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A dancer from the Drake School of Irish Dance concentrates as she performs on stage during last year's Arts Festival at Towne Centre in Mount Pleasant. Drake School of Irish Dance will return to the 2008 Art Festival, set for noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at To
/SARAH B. REYNOLDS/TOWN OF MOUNT PLEASANTA dancer from the Drake School of Irish Dance concentrates as she performs on stage during last year's Arts Festival at Towne Centre in Mount Pleasant. Drake School of Irish Dance will return to the 2008 Art Festival, set for noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at To

The area's talented artists and performers will gather at Mount Pleasant Towne Centre Saturday for the 12th annual town of Mount Pleasant Art Festival.

The festival offers an afternoon of free activities from noon to 4 p.m.

Event-goers will find a wide array of live dance and musical entertainment, art exhibits and activities in a family-friendly environment. There is no admission fee at the festival, and all activities, exhibits and performances are free of charge.

Highlights include the appearance of mime artist Will Shaw. Shaw has 27 years experience performing as a mime artist for a number of venues, including festivals, resorts, amusement parks and commercials.

The Mount Pleasant Artists Guild will present its annual display of more than 100 art pieces, which will be judged for first-, second-, third-place and Best of Show awards.

Throughout the day, attendees will discover a wide array of entertainment on the main stage near the Palmetto Grande, including professional entertainers, local music groups and dance academies.

Scheduled performance acts include the Academy of Dance Arts, Broadway Dance Academy, Cambridge St. Dance Academy, Djole West African Dance and Drum Company, Drake School of Irish Dance, Once Upon a Ballet and Tapio Gymnastics. French Toast will perform jazz on the main stage and Susie Summer will perform folk music on the smaller stage near Belk. Mayor Harry Hallman will officially open the event and WCBD-TV Channel 2 personalities will emcee.

Hands-on activities such as craft stations, art projects, sweetgrass basketry, clay sculpting, balloon art, sidewalk chalk and more will be available free of charge throughout the day in the Children's Craft Village near Belk. Other features include face painting, roaming performers, as well as play areas including a spider jump and inflatable equipment to delight the whole family. Event visitors will also have the chance to win a $100 gift card or one of four $20 gift cards to Towne Centre. Concessions will be available for sale throughout the day.

For more information on the Mount Pleasant Art Festival or for a current lineup of scheduled performances, contact event coordinator Su McManus-Frost at 849-2061 or visit www.townofmountpleasant.com.