Festival on the Green returns for 10th year

The agenda for annual arts and crafts festival is filled with fun and activities for the whole family, including a motorcycle safety demonstration; the Children’s Festival March 27; Time Portal to the Past; Time Portal to Your Future (featuring different UWF departments, formerly known as UWF Showcase); dog agility demonstrations; the Native American Village; and NCAA Division II men’s and women’s tennis matches.

“The festival brings as many events as possible together to showcase our campus and our partnerships,” said Jeff Comeau, Festival on the Green chair and assistant director of UWF Human Resources. “All events are connected to the university or our students and employees. This is an annual spring celebration of our many collaborations with our friends and neighbors.”

The festival welcomes approximately 20,000 to the UWF campus each spring.

“This year, considering the economy, we are hoping for even more attendance since we don’t charge admission and we are right in the neighborhood,” he said.

Entertainment: Acts will include Not Quite Fab, a Beatles tribute band; “Grease,” a UWF Theatre Department teaser; Mass Kunfuzion; UWF Juggling Club Demonstration; Touch of Blue; UWF Symphonic Band; Joy Ward [jward@uwf.edu] and the UWF Jazz Band. On March 26, the festival will showcase UWF music and theater students, while March 27 will bring a variety of entertainment on three different stages.

Fine arts: Artists from throughout the region will display and sell their work on both days. In the juried show, festival judges will recognize: Best of Show, President’s Award, First Place Award, Second Place Award and Judges Award. Also, selected student art will be on display at the juried exhibit at the UWF gallery.

Children’s Festival: Kids will enjoy arts and crafts, games and activities, magic, clowns and gymnasts during activities March 27. Games will include kiddie bowling, face painting, tile painting and jigsaw puzzle making. The UWF organizations Marine Ecology Research Society and Explore Summer Programs will host a marine life touch tank, “fish print” art and other games.

Motorcycles: Motorcycle enthusiasts from the Gulf Coast Chapter of American Bikers Aimed Toward Education (A.B.A.T.E.) will be on hand with an array of bikes and to share motorcycle safety information.

Crafts fair: An assortment of crafts created, exhibited and sold by regional crafters will be on display. Find ceramics, wood, fiber, jewelry, toys and clothing among others.

Diversity stage: Various cultural and international artists will perform March 27. The highlight will be an appearance by South Pacific Luau and its energy-filled revue. Dances and sweet melodies of the islands of Hawaii, the visually stunning Poi-ball dance of New Zealand, the amazing fire knife dance of Samoa and the energetic hip-shaking routine representative of the island of Tahiti will take the audience on an entertaining journey.

Library Book Sale: Thousands of books, textbooks, music scores, paperbacks, videos and magazines will be for sale at low prices. Buy for yourself or find a great gift for a family member or friend. The biggest selections will be available in the fiction and literature, history, biography, music and social sciences. A UWF identification or Nautilus card required for admission.

Dog exhibition: The Five Flags Dog Training Club will offer exciting canine demonstrations presented by club members and their furry friends. Don’t miss the Country Canine Square Dancers or the fast and “fur-ious” demonstrations by local flyball teams.

For details about Festival on the Green including entertainment schedule and festival map, visit uwf.edu/festival or call (850) 474-3000.

By Susie Forrester, University Marketing Communications