Fayette Festival of the Arts Celebrated 200 years of History and Creativity in Howard County

Always a much-anticipated gathering, the Fayette Festival of the Arts, sponsored by the Fayette Area Heritage Association (FAHA) and other organizations, was part of Fayette's Bicentennial Celebration this year. During the festival a resolution from the state legislature recognizing Fayette's 200th year was presented.  FAHA had a display and picture presentation about Fayette's history at the FAHA tent on the Courthouse.  In addition, the Bicentennial poster contest entries from Fayette school kids were on display.   Interested persons who were unable to pick up  time capsule envelopes at the FAHA tent may still do so at the Wright Building.  These individuals will receive instructions on where to return their filled envelopes which will then be placed in the 2073 Time Capsule. 

The Festival has come to be regarded as the culminating summer celebration for the Fayette area, with activities taking place in and around the historic town square.  The festival lineup, as in past years, included performances from the Howard County Memorial Bandstand and from the courthouse lawn. There were various kinds of music, craft demonstrations, vendors and a variety of food and beverages.  The highlight of the activities on the Courthouse Lawn was the opening of the time capsule which was sealed during the town's Sesquicentennial Celebration in 1973.

The Fayette Festival of the Arts is enhanced by its location. Fayette founded in 1823 is the county seat of Howard County, and the courthouse square provides a picturesque location for most of the festival. Central Methodist University, site of the Ashby-Hodge Gallery and Paul H. Linn Memorial United Methodist Church are just a short walk from the square.

There were two Art Shows as part of the festival - one for adults in the Ashby-Hodge Gallery and one for young artists in the Courthouse. 

The Peacemakers Quilting Group once again transformed the sanctuary of Linn Memorial United Methodist Church into a quilt lover's paradise.  This year's theme was "Granny's Attic: 200 years of Quilts."