A Big Day for Sweetheart Circle: Arts Fest 2025

By: Daisy Davis

STATESBORO- Visitors packed Sweetheart Circle at Georgia Southern on Saturday to paint, shop, eat, and enjoy each other's company at the 42nd annual Arts Fest.

Bulloch County Recreation took over the planning and hosting of the event in 2016 after the Betty Foy Sanders Department of Art discontinued its operations of the events. 

Kimberly Sharpe, Bulloch County Recreation Event Coordinator, says that a lot of work and planning goes into this event, but it’s worth it because of its importance to community members.

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the festival had over 3,000 attendees, and there were plenty of things for them to see.

“A lot of your Statesboro locals, especially, grew up coming to this event,” said Sharpe. “So now for them to be able to bring their children, or you have some of them that are bringing their grandchildren, it’s just a really great family event.”

The event included art booths with various crafts, a canvas painting area, food vendors, face painting, a bouncy house, and an artist market with local businesses.

Sharpe said there were thirty-eight art stops in total and over fifty artist market vendors to shop at. Products at the market ranged from jewelry to canvas paintings and items like crocheted stuffed animals.

Brittany Willis, a vendor, said this event is significant for local businesses, like her booth “Naturally Crafties,” to gain exposure in the community. 

There were also several food trucks to enjoy and a snow cone station to cool off after a sunny day full of festivities.

Volunteers at the art booths were primarily members of Georgia Southern Sorority and Fraternity Life.

Panhellenic President Jaylee Kilgo says student volunteers are working to earn hours for Fraternity and Sorority Life Serves week.

The station Kilgo was at was full of brown paper bags, craft scissors, googly eyes, and other craft supplies for people to make their own paper jellyfish.

Crafts like this one were available at every art stop table.The most popular areas seemed to be the canvas painting station and the t-shirt tie-dying area.  

Volunteer Ethan Carrol ran the canvas painting station and said his favorite part of volunteering was making sure the kids were having fun.

This event provides a place for kids and adults to embrace their creativity and enjoy everything the festival has to offer.

Jordan Renee-Greene, a kid painting at the canvas station, said one of her favorite parts of the day was getting to paint for her mom and cousins, she also enjoyed climbing trees and jumping in the bouncy house. 

This year's Arts Fest theme was "Creativity takes Courage." The event continues to encourage creativity and embrace local artistry every year it is held on Georgia Southern's campus.