TroyFest to bring art, food and music to the Square

Ora Nelson Students and Troy residents are invited to visit the TroyFest Arts and Crafts Festival April 27-28, a yearly showcase of artists and performers over the two-day event. The expected turnout is more than 10,000 throughout the entire weekend. “We have the two-dimensional arts, the visual arts and the performing arts,” said Morgan Drinkard, the TroyFest publicity chair. “Along with the artist gallery, made of more than 90 artists, we’ll have an entertainment stage with a full schedule of performing arts.” “It really was a dream of mine to be able to have a band perform at the festival this year,” said Echo Mann, a freshman music industry major from Luverne and a member of the band Helium Lilies. “I am looking forward to being back this year to reconnect with past customers, people who follow my work on social media and some great friends I made among fellow artists,” said Amy Bowers, an artist from Andalusia participating in TroyFest. “TroyFest had a reputation as being very professional and very popular. “I was happy to find a relatively local show with an appreciative and supportive art community standing behind it.” The festival has artists from nine different states ranging from Alabama all the way to states like Missouri and Indiana. Students from Troy University will be participating in and volunteering at TroyFest. “Bush Baptist will be helping pass out flyers and water bottles to help however we can,” said Kyle Lemanski, a senior sports management major and Bush Baptist member from Knoxville, Tennessee. “We’re supposed to have beautiful weather this weekend,” Drinkard said. “We’re looking forward to a great time and a great celebration of the arts at downtown Troy.” The festival is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 27 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 28 downtown on the Square. Admission is free for both days.