By NewsLine Staff
mail@floridnewsline.com
The 51st annual Mandarin Art Festival once again proved that the show must go on … and it did!
“The Easter weekend event was sunny and bright — after some bumpy weather on Friday as exhibitors and vendors arrived to set up,” said this year’s Mandarin Art Festival chair, Susie Scott.
After a very early morning arrival and some time waiting out the storms, exhibitors got busy setting up the more than 120 tents to display their artistic creations and prepare to impress the patrons over the weekend.
When Saturday morning arrived with beautiful weather, thousands of patrons shuttled, drove, walked, or biked to the Mandarin Community Club grounds to enjoy the festival activities. Award-winning art, live music, Spanish dancers, locally sourced items at the Green Market, the Children’s Art Show, a Bake Sale and more awaited festival-goers under the majestic oaks of Mandarin Road.
One local Jacksonville artist, Tim Bullard, walked away with the Best of Show honors from the dozens of national and local exhibiting artists — and what a fitting tribute to Bullard, who may well be the longest participating exhibitor in the show. Bullard even apprenticed under nationally acclaimed artist and potter Charlie Brown, who had a studio across from the Mandarin Community Club back in the ‘60s.
The Mandarin Community Club founded and continues to host the Mandarin Art Festival, with the help of hundreds if not thousands of volunteers over the years. All are dedicated to its excellence and continuity. The festival is the oldest continually running event of its kind in northeast Florida and is a multi-generational Easter weekend family tradition.
“If you missed this year, not to worry, we will see you on Easter weekend of 2020 for the 52nd annual Mandarin Art Festival,” Scott said.
Photo courtesy Mandarin Community Club
Tim Bullard, Best of Show winner with Susie Scott.
