By NewsLine Staff
mail@floridanewsline.com
Following a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mandarin Art Festival will return on Easter weekend, April 16 and 17. Held on the grounds of the Mandarin Community Club at 12447 Mandarin Road, the family-friendly event is a more than half-century long tradition.
“I am constantly told by people how the festival has been their Easter tradition,” said Mandarin Art Festival chair Susie Scott. “Just imagine the stories of the thousands who have attended since 1968 — as exhibitors and patrons of the event. We are looking forward to great weather, robust sales and happy festival-goers returning to make memories!”
The Mandarin Art Festival serves as the premier fundraiser of the Mandarin Community Club, a non-profit identified as the oldest civic organization in Jacksonville. Proceeds support the club’s preservation, education and beautification efforts throughout the Mandarin community.
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, please. 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. The Mandarin Art Festival is a juried fine art and fine craft show and 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 and is proudly sponsored by Emily and Lawrence Lisska. 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 performed 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.
“The Art Festival has always been a joyful celebration of spring and Easter — and finally after two very tough years we are so excited to bring it back to Mandarin!” Scott said.
For more information, visit www.mandarinartfestival.org or contact the Festival at mandarinartfestival@gmail.com.
Photo courtesy Mandarin Community Club
Festival grounds.
