LAURINBURG — This year’s downtown arts festival has added more days, more events — and organizers hope more fun.
The Springfest will bring together the Arts Council of Scotland County with the Laurinburg/Scotland County Chamber of Commerce, Scotland Memorial Foundation and Scotland County Parks and Recreation.
The event is April 27 and 28.
“I think having all these different people coming together to do something for the community is awesome,” said Erin Rembert, Arts Council executive director . “We are hopeful that the event grows this year and we will have several hundred people come downtown and celebrate and enjoy our community and each other.”
The festival will begin with the chamber’s Laurinburg After Five event featuring the band Hip Pocket.
There is no fee to watch the performance and this is the only Laurinburg After Five event away from at the James L. Morgan Park.
Chris English, chamber executive director, said the group has tossed around the idea of having the event downtown for a while.
“We knew people would be in town for the race as well as the festival so we thought it was a great opportunity,” English said.
The band’s performance will be followed by a screening of the movie “A Dog’s Purpose,” organized by the recreation department. The movie will begin the park and rec. spring movie series. The “The Sting” will be shown in May and “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” will be shown in June.
The 14th annual FUNd-Run will start off day 2 of the festival. Packets for the run will be distributed at the Laurinburg After Five event.
The 5K will begin at 8:30 a.m. on April 28 while the FunD-Run, which is a one-mile run, begins at 9:30 a.m.
“We’re encouraging people to stay after the run and enjoy the festival,” said Foundation assistant Liza Purcell
Proceeds from the run will go to Scotland Cancer Treatment Center and the Diabetes Education Fund. Spirit makers can be purchased to honor or remember a loved one’s fight against cancer or diabetes that will line the mile-long route.
Runners are encouraged to raise money for the event via social media. The goal is $40,000.
The FUNd-Run will be followed by the arts festival that will include a stage of music with performers from Scotland High School, the University of North Carolina Pembroke, and St. Andrews University. There will also be craft and food vendors, a chalk art contest, a community art project.
The Bold-Faced Liar’s Showdown will return to the SpringFest, beginning at 2 p.m. at the Story Telling Arts Building. Tickets are $10. The event is a showdown between tall-tale storytellers who come from all over to take the title of “Biggest Liar.”
“It’s a really fun day to come downtown,” Rembert said.
Since here were several different events happening on the same weekend last year, English said it seemed like a good opportunity to tie them together.
“It’s a way to bring people downtown who wouldn’t normally go downtown,” English said.
The Arts Council will also have an art supply drop box at the festival for people to donate new art supplies for the council’s new outreach program. The council will be working with organizations such as Restoring Hope to bring art into the community.
There will also be a beverage garden at both Laurinburg After Five as well as the Arts Festival. Those over the age of 21 will be able to buy malt beverages that they are able to drink but they must stay within the festival area, which will be clearly marked.
