Celebrate Clayton is Back in 2021

Celebrate Clayton is Back in 2021! April 24th and 25th

Ali Wilkins

Back and better than ever! On April 24 and 25, Clayton and Rabun County and the members of the North Georgia Arts Guild are proud and excited to bring you their popular, family-friendly outdoor art festival. The Celebrate Clayton Art Festival began in 1999 and continues to bring art and fine crafts to Rabun County.

After so many long months indoors, it’s spring and we can finally get outside in the fresh air, enjoy budding trees, blooming flowers, and the fun happening in downtown Clayton. North and South Main Streets will be lined with the festive canopies of the juried Artist Market. Over 100 artists and artisans bring you the best art and fine crafts from across the region: paintings in every medium; photography; whimsical and functional pottery; folk-art; jewelry; wood working; furniture; glass; live plants; and gourmet snacks. You will see many new faces and old favorites. Visit and shop with them all and congratulate the award winners for Best in Show, Judges Choice, and Producers Choice. The strains of live music can be heard from the Rock House Stage all weekend. Relax on the Rock House lawn and listen to this year’s line-up of performers: Mat Fried, classic rock; Doug Weiss, old favorites; Sweet Charity, rock n’ roll; Cylvie Patterson, soft rock; Rabun Entertainers, flash mob; Connections Praise Band, contemporary Christian; Three-R-One, Christian alternative rock. Hank Belew once again is providing our sound system. Grab a snack or a meal! You’ll find great food at any of Clayton’s eateries, both on and off Main Street. Our restaurants offer whatever you’re in the mood for: all-day breakfast; soup, salad and sandwiches; beer and pizza; fine dining and wine. You can eat indoors, outdoors or on-the-go. In Veteran’s Park, the 2021 NGAG Art Scholarship winners will host the high school student art exhibit. Although we will not offer kids an art activity this year, there will be booths with face painters, mountain musical instruments, and wooden toys. The 2021 Celebrate Clayton T-shirt is embellished with Diane Rush’s dazzling festival painting. Women’s sizes are in rich purple; men’s come in blue or red. Get yours at the information tent. Better yet, pick one up now at the North Georgia Art Guild’s booth (#6) at Butlers Gallery and wear it to show support for your community! No event of this magnitude can experience the success and longevity we have enjoyed since 1994 without the support of the community. We cannot thank enough the many volunteers who are dedicated to planning and working the festival year after year. The time and energy of every individual is needed and appreciated. The past generosity of the long list of local business sponsors and individual donors has ensured continued funding for the North Georgia Arts Guild’s scholarship and community outreach programs.

Celebrate Clayton is presented by the North Georgia Arts Guild, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. All donations are taxdeductible. For more information, visit CelebrateClayton.com or contact Kathy Ford, Celebrate Clayton Chairman at 706-212-9958.