A very fine festival

You couldn’t have asked for a better weekend for the 56^th annual Ocala Arts Festival. The weather was perfect. The artists brought their best works. The downtown businesses and vendors offered delicious food and drink. And the crowds showed up in large numbers.

The streets all around downtown Ocala were filled with things to do and see, taste and savor. More than 150 artists participated, along with local students and emerging artists.

The overall Best in Show award went to William Kidd, with the Emerging Artists Best in Show honor going to Kendra Brazzel. Ummarid Eitharong and Richard Currier both earned the Award of Excellence.

Awards of Distinction went to Luis Gutierrez, Dennis Angel, Susan Currier, Michelle McDowell, Juan Carlos and Nuris Cahue, Kristin Schillaci and Timothy Hall.

Earning Awards of Merit were Wendy Mitchell, Robin Popp, Michael Nelson, Greg Johnson, Zhiyong Ye, Harry Welsch, Nathan Leemis, Charles Bahringer, Robert Lowe and Taymon Loringsmith.

The Fine Arts For Ocala (FAFO) nonprofit organization, which was formed in 1966 by local residents, puts on the annual event. In 1988, the group started Symphony Under The Stars, the annual Mother’s Day tradition that helps fund the art festival. FAFO’s administrator coordinator is Ashley Morgan. This year’s festival chairs were Teddy Sykes and Ryan Neumann.

To learn more, go to fafo.org