Georgia Festival a Hit - City of Acworth Welcomed Promoter

April 2022, by Angie Landsverk

“An Acworth volunteer approached Splash Festivals after visiting one of our other events, the Dunwoody Art Festival (which always takes place on Mother’s Day weekend). This is the ultimate form of flattery, and we didn’t have to sell ourselves!” said Frances Schube. 

Schube is the president of Splash Festivals, which is based in Norcross, Georgia. It produces eight outdoor arts and crafts festivals with work that is unique, colorful, and often whimsical, she said. 

It started producing Acworth Art Fest in 2012. This year’s festival is April 2-3. With the 2020 event canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and it being held in 2021, the upcoming festival is the 10th. 

Acworth is 35 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta. Schube said they did not know much about the “charming, historic town until we started working with the friendly staff and volunteers.” She said they learned it is a “fast-growing and vibrant area with an enchanting downtown district with an Americana feel.” 

Schube said the “city’s team was so welcoming that their smiles and easy demeanor were contagious! Over the years, it has grown in popularity, not only with the citizens who live there, but the cities that surround the town. The artists who come even comment that this show has a ‘frenzy’ of buyers!” 

The festival usually has 140 booth spaces. Since the pandemic began and continues, Splash Festivals has adjusted. 

“We have definitely had to make some changes, which might be how we operate going forward. We have moved the artists’ booths further apart from each other to allow more space to breathe, and we reduced the number of booth spaces as well,” Schube said. “We have added free-standing hand sanitizers (when we can find them). We used to have a large indoor ‘hospitality suite,’ which was located inside Acworth City Hall, with restrooms and snacks for the exhibitors. We might have to discontinue the treats, so that vendors will not congregate inside in large numbers. Some artists have even changed their booth designs to safeguard themselves and their customers from getting too close to one another in a small tent area.” 

She said 89 booth spaces are planned this April. Artists and exhibitors will line Acworth’s Main Street, which also features eateries, boutiques, and unique shops. The street is blocked for the weekend.  

Splash Festivals sends invitations to the artists in its database six months prior to the show. Applications are also accepted on splashfestivals.com and eventeny.com. 

“Our jurying process involves looking at images of the artist’s work to decide if the creations are a good fit for the Art Fest, if the art would be successful with the crowds, and are the products handmade,” Schube said. “We try to let the artists know in plenty of time if they are accepted, so that they can plan their schedules.” 

She advises first-time applicants to make sure their booths are lively and engaging and not just items on tables. “We would also help ‘newbies’ with their display if they have questions or need some design help,” Schube said. “This is something that we pride ourselves on — treating artisans like family and assisting them at the event or before they ever arrive.” 

The company’s message to artists who have not exhibited in a few years is to come back and see how much shoppers continue to enjoy browsing and spending money. She said they noticed that even during the pandemic, festivalgoers are eager to buy and support the vendors. 

They have learned much through the years. The artists now opt into a text message system, so they get updates if Splash Festivals must close the event early due to inclement weather. 

“We have also streamlined our check-in process, making it easier and quicker for artists to set up their booths in the morning (which for this show is the same day as the actual event),” she said. Members of a men’s club at a local church help artists unload their vehicles, Schube said. 

“And we truly believe that the cities that are thrilled to have a festival for their citizens and neighbors make the best partners, and Acworth is a perfect example of this,” she said. “They make us feel at home, as well as the vendors.”