The 14th annual Ashley Garrett Memorial Children's Art Festival will be held on Saturday, Oct. 9 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Domann Park, 305 S. Elm in Auxvasse.
At the free, family event, organized by the Auxvasse Creative Art Program, children can enjoy free arts and crafts activities, live music, food and more.
The first 150 children at the event will receive a free backsack. Each child will also receive a free lunch and book, while supplies last, donated by Scholastic. Live music will be performed by Gary Durk of Varlet Hearts.
Art festival attendees are encouraged to come early and take part in the NC Disability Awareness 5K Color Run/Walk. Children and families can participate in a 1-mile walk. Race starts at 8:30 a.m. with check-in at 8 a.m. Online registration for the NC Disability Awareness 5K Color Run/Walk is available: https://forms.gle/Zu6Sy9UJEHhg9cMf9.
Local organizations and businesses participating with an activity at the festival will include Oasis RSVP Tutoring of Audrain and Callaway County, Central Missouri Community Action, North Callaway Parents as Teachers and North Callaway High School Softball.
This year's core sponsors are Ameren, Baumgartner's Furniture, Bell Bros. Farms, CatchPhrase Communications, Garrett Painting, Gary Barcak and Shramek Farms. With patron sponsors as: Crane's Country Store, Marilyn Stanley, and Nelson and Diana Wolfmeier. And then workshop sponsors will be: Norm and Dianna Huls, Barbara Schwab, Boyd & Boyd, Callaway Bank, Doc Kritzer, Foster Bros. Wood Products, Gilman Investments, Kent and Lori Deimeke, Kingdom Telephone, Sydenstricker and United Security Bank.
ACAP and the children's art festival were established in memory of Ashley O'Donley Garrett. A former Auxvasse resident, artist and daycare operator in Fulton. She saw the potential in every child and loved using art to bring out creativity, joy and beauty.
Find the Auxvasse Creative Arts Program on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AuxvasseCreativeArtsProgram.