FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association
PHONE: 256.350.3500 / 800.648.5381
EMAIL: info@northalabama.org
Art and Music Come Together for Big Celebration in Huntsville
Decatur, Ala. – Art and music come together the last weekend in April for one big celebration in downtown Huntsville. The annual Panoply Arts Festival makes it way to downtown Huntsville’s Big Spring Park April 29, 30 and May 1, 2022, offering three days of live music, shopping for original works of art, demonstrations, hands-on activities along with two nights of fireworks.
Now in its 40th year, Panoply kicks off at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 29 and during the three-day event, over 30 local and regional musical acts in a variety of genres – jazz, rock, R&B, indie rock, blues, pop and more – will be presented on Panoply’s two stages: the Pepsi Showcase Stage and the Indie Stage, featuring a new location in Big Spring Park East. Friday’s headliner is Hero the Band, a multifaceted group from Decatur, Georgia comprised of four brothers with a unique musical vision that blurs lines and genres. Rolling Stone says that Hero the Band’s recent EP “Unicorn” is “the absolute top of its game” and “Hero the Band is ready to explode.” On Saturday, the music starts when the gates open at 10 a.m. and closes out with headliner The Suffers. The Suffers’ eight-piece band, hailing from Houston, Texas, has played sold out shows in Japan and Latin America. On Sunday, Panoply celebrates a day of Alabama music, featuring a full-day lineup of artists from Huntsville and the Shoals. Closer to festival date, a playlist of this year’s Panoply Arts Festival musicians will go live at www.artshuntsville.org.
As music fills the air, festivalgoers can shop, participate in hands-on activities and watch demonstrations. Regional artists will offer demonstrations of their craft at Panoply’s Arts in Action tents, where festivalgoers can get a first-hand look at the process of en plein air painting, art journaling, vinyl art and cigar box guitars. The juried Art Marketplace, one of the most popular features of the festival, showcases the works of more than 100 visual artists from 25 states, with some traveling from as far as California and New Mexico. Panoply’s STEAM Street will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Panoply Arts Festival with special activities and this year’s Creativity Corner will introduce festivalgoers to simple watercolor techniques, dot monoprint and Chihuly’s famous Macchia series.
This year Panoply welcomes a new Art OutLoud Stage, presented by Pei-Ling Charitable Trust, that will provide an outlet for spoken word performances from local literary figures, poets, authors and comedians. Two popular tents make a comeback this year at Panoply. The Student Art Tent returns in Big Spring Park East to showcase budding talent across the community. The popular tent will feature artwork from students of all ages that attend public and private schools across Madison County. At another popular destination, festivalgoers can celebrate their creative side at the Panoply Face Painting Tent.
Friday and Saturday evenings conclude with a spectacular fireworks display. Festival patrons are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets to enjoy the entertainment each day. Along with a diverse array of art and music, the Craft Beer Tent returns featuring beer from breweries located across North Alabama and there will be a great assortment of local tastes from 13 food trucks.
Arts Huntsville is offering a Panoply weekend pass available online until 4 p.m. April 29 for $18. Day passes are $10 and can be purchased in advance online or at the event. Tickets are on sale now at artshuntsville.org. Admission is free for children 12 and under. Festival hours are 5-9 p.m. on Friday, April 29; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. on Saturday, April 30; and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday, May 1. For more information, visit www.artshuntsville.org or call (256) 519-2787 (ARTS).
About Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA)
AMLA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion and development of the travel industry within the 16 northernmost counties of the state. It is supported by 500-plus members consisting of chambers of commerce, Convention & Visitors Bureaus, attractions, campgrounds, festivals, communities, counties, golf courses, restaurants, tour operators, accommodations, vendors, financial institutions and individuals. Counties included within the AMLA region are Blount, Cherokee, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan and Winston. Additional information on North Alabama destinations, accommodations and special events is available by calling 800.648.5381 or by visiting www.NorthAlabama.org. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @VisitNorthAL and like us at www.facebook.com/VisitNorthAL.
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