Francisco's Farm Arts Festival May 21-22 will have 92 juried artists from 16 states, plus food, fun and music

A painting by Penny Dobson, one of the artists

The annual Francisco's Farm Arts Festival will be held at Midway University May 21-22, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. While admission to the festival is free, the fee to park will be $5 per vehicle.

Presented by Midway Renaissance, the festival has become a signature event of the Bluegrass.

"It is the event that represents the community as a whole," Midway correspondent John McDaniel wrote in The Woodford Sun. "It is the Midwegians who make this event what it is. Everybody from Midway and surrounding areas wants to pitch in and . . . Midway University has provided a backdrop for the Francisco’s Farm arts fair that is really second to none."

This year's festival will feature 92 artists from 16 states, including potters, painters, jewelry makers, woodworkers and photographers. Applicants were selected by three jurors.

"Visitors to this year's Festival will be pleased with the wide variety of artists," Artist Committee Chair Kenny Smith said. "We have several of our crowd favorites returning this year along with a number of newcomers to the event." For details on the artists, click here.

Hammock woven by Chris Oaks, one of the demonstrating artists

The festival will also have demonstration booth with Chris Oaks of Louisa, Va., who will be demonstrating how to weave hammocks and related furniture items; and basket weavers Jim and Nancy Phillips of Jacksboro, Tenn.

Food vendors will offer eclectic festival food including barbecue, crab cakes, specialty drinks, ice cream, homemade candies and lots more.

"Midway Renaissance and Midway University are excited to welcome visitors to this year's festival," said Joy Arnold, festival committee chair. "Our volunteers work throughout the year to stage this event and we are excited to show off our community and our beautiful university's campus, which provides a lovely setting to view works of art, hear wonderful music and have an event the whole family will enjoy."

The Woodford County Public Library will again sponsor a children's art booth, where kids can create their own art. This year's projects will have children creating their enchanted crowns to wear around the festival. The festival website includes a code of conduct for visitors.

A variety of local musicians will entertain each day. Here's the schedule:
Saturday, May 21
10:30 a.m. Midway Children's Choir - Various
11:00 a.m. Bill and Leslie Penn - Traditional English and Irish Folk
12:00 p.m. Aaron Hamilton - Rhythm and Blues and Gospel
 1:00 p.m. Water - Jazz, African and Spoken Word
 2:00 p.m. Rock Peddlers - Classic Rock
 3:00 p.m. Mitch Barrett - Americana, Topically Relevant Folk
 4:00 p.m. Maggie Lander and Blake Jones - Folk and Americana
 5:00 p.m. Margaret Lyle Gravitt - Celtic
Sunday, May 22
12:00 p.m. Grayson Vandegrift - Americana
 1:00 p.m. Michael Jacobs - Roots Rock, Pop, and Folk
 2:00 p.m. Heath and Molly Eric - American Folk Rock
 3:00 p.m. Billy, Lauren and Sophie Hill - Americana
 4:00 p.m. Keith Hubbard - Piana Tonk balladeer