By NewsLine Staff
mail@floridanewsline.com
This year, the Mandarin Community Club is celebrating its 100th anniversary — and as part of the year of celebrations, invites the community to the Mandarin Art Festival on Easter weekend, April 8 and 9, on the grounds of the Mandarin Community Club at 12447 Mandarin Road. The family-friendly event serves as the premier fundraiser of the Mandarin Community Club, a non-profit identified as the oldest civic organization in Jacksonville, with proceeds supporting the club’s preservation, education and beautification efforts throughout the Mandarin community.
The Mandarin Art Festival will be open from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 8 and from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 9. Free parking and shuttle service is available from Albert Field at Orange Picker and Brady roads and at the Mandarin Masonic Lodge on Loretto Road. This is an outdoor, rain or shine event, but no pets are permitted. A $2 donation per person is requested at the gate.
The largest community event in Mandarin, the Mandarin Art Festival has been an Easter tradition for generations of families. Over the years, tens of thousands of guests have strolled under the oaks of the historic Mandarin Community Club to peruse the artwork of more than 100 local and nationally-known artists working in a variety of media. A juried fine art and fine craft show, awards will be given in the categories of Functional Fine Craft, Jewelry, Mixed Media, Painting, Photography, Sculpture and Best in Show.
The Children’s Art Show, a beloved favorite of festival patrons, will display the creations of talented students from area elementary and middle schools. Other features include a Green Market of unique locally sourced and made items, a bake sale with homemade goodies from the kitchens of club members, food vendors providing an array of cuisine and a chance drawing for items contributed by Mandarin area businesses. Live entertainment will be provided and the historic, 100-year-old Post Office and General Store will be open and manned by the Mandarin Museum and Historical Society so that guests may stroll through its doors and back into history.
Festival chair Susie Scott leads the all-volunteer Mandarin Art Festival planning committee. The festival is made possible, in part, by support from Ackerman Cancer Center and Ackerman Cancer Foundation; Watson Realty Corp. Kathy Akel Realtor; State Farm, Jim Register Agent; Renewal by Andersen; The Bolles School; Hagan Ace; and Hardage-Giddens.
Visit www.mandarinartfestival.org or contact the festival at mandarinartfestival@gmail.com for more information.
Photo courtesy Mandarin Art Festival
The Mandarin Art Festival will be held April 8 – 9.
