WEST POINT – For the 46th year, downtown West Point is preparing for the Prairie Arts Festival.
Lisa Klutts, community development director for the West Point Clay County Community Growth Alliance, has coordinated the festival since 2008. She said each year the festival returns on Labor Day weekend, filling downtown with about 200 vendors, artists, food trucks, music and more.
“Even though the festival has been going for 46 years and you know what to expect, there is something new every year,” Klutts said. “Whether it’s different vendors, different attractions, different musicians or just something new to eat, the festival always has something new that gives it a freshness.”
The festival will take place on August 31st from 9am to 4pm downtown from Main Street to Westbrook Street. A 5K run, held each year before the festival, begins at 8am.
Klutts said the festival will include a variety of jewelry, pottery, paintings, door hangers, garden art and baked goods, as well as the fine arts the festival is known for. Newer additions include plush toys, boutique clothing and 3D printed art.
This year, Klutts said, there will be some changes to the festival. The annual juried fine arts and student art competitions will be moved to the Louise Campbell Center for the Arts.
The jury prizes for fine arts will be awarded at 11:30 a.m. and the prizes for student art at 2:00 p.m.
The Bryan Public Library will also reinstate its book sale during the festival, Klutts said.
The children’s area will also have a climbing wall for all ages, said Klutts. The children’s area will also have swings, pony rides, a diving booth, face painting, the parade track and more.
“Come and spend an hour or two, or stay all day,” Klutt said. “There’s plenty to keep you entertained. There’s plenty to buy, plenty to eat, and come and stay as long as you like.”
According to Klutts, there is always something new at Prairie Arts, but the festival is “really part of West Point’s tradition,” as many former residents use the weekend to plan family and class reunions.
“There’s a class reunion coming up and they’ve signed up for the 5K,” Klutts said. “I love how (the citizens) organize activities around the festival to get home.”
The Black Prairie Blues Museum also plans to host “Two Mules at the Museum II” at its Commerce Street location to coincide with the festival, museum director Deborah Mansfield told The Dispatch Thursday.
From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., the museum will feature artwork by Church Goin Mule, a Southern folk artist. Mansfield said the museum will also serve cold beverages throughout the day and will serve hot tamales starting at 10:30 a.m.
Afterwards, Mississippi blues musician Mark “Muleman” Massey will perform at the museum from 6 p.m. to midnight. Admission to the evening performance is $25.
“Be sure to stop by the Black Prairie Blues Museum, grab a cold drink, sit down and learn about the blues museum,” Mansfield said. “You can look at art and listen to music.”
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