Annabelle Festival set at Anna Park, arts center
The 2021 Annabelle Festival is coming up, with activities planned from Thursday, today, through Sunday, June 13.
Annabelle Festival activities are planned at the Anna Arts Center and at the Anna City Park.
The festival celebrates the story of the Annabelle hydrangea, a plant with big, colorful blooms which was discovered in the Anna area.
The festival was not held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The event is spearheaded by the Union County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development.
Here’s a look at the schedule of events for the festival:
Thursday, June 10
Anna Arts Center
6:30 p.m. Little Mr. and Miss Annabelle Festival Pageant for ages 4 through 7 at the Anna Arts Center, 117 W. Davie St., Anna.
Pageant categories included “Outfit of Choice” and “Fun Onstage Question.”
The entry fee is $10. Children can register from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on the day of the pageant at the arts center.
Participants will practice from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. A snack will be provided. The pageant is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. All contestants will receive a participation prize.
Friday, June 11
Anna City Park
Annabelle Festival activities are planned from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Anna City Park.
Flower Show
The Anna-Jo Garden Club is presenting an Annabelle Festival flower show.
Flower show entries will be accepted from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the exhibition building at the Anna City Park.
All entries in the flower show must be delivered to the exhibition building before judging at 5:30 p.m.
More information about the flower show, along with a registration form, are available by email at interiordirections@sbcglobal.net.
The theme for the flower show is “Annabelles: Grand Dames of the Garden and Glorious Heralds of the Summer.”
Classes in the flower show include:
Annabelles, Glory of the June Garden. White, Red and Blues (Flag Day is June 14). Welcome to Anna: Home of the Annabelle. Annabelles: Classy All Year Long. Botanicals: Single specimen or small gather in glass bottle.
Awards will be presented for first, second and third place. A best of show ribbon will be awarded.
Other Friday Activities
4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Craft fair, vendors, food trucks.
5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Children’s activities, including a bounce house, face painting and games. $5 for a wrist band that allows children to do everything as long as they want.
5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Painting party in the exhibition building. All ages are welcome. Choose one of three paintings or create your own painting. The price of $15 includes all art supplies for one 8 by 10 painting and instructors to assist. Preregistration is not required, but those who would like to participate are asked to contact Lee by phone at 1-904-625-1109 or email at vabchlee@gmail.com. Participants are invited to bring a drink and snacks.
5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Paint the Town. Participants will transform one of the streets at the park into a huge painting. Children and adults are invited to paint a 4-foot by 4-foot square. All paints, brushes and a square are provided. The fee is $15.
5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Alto Vineyards of Alto Pass will be serving wine, beer and Sangria. Must be 21 to enter area.
5:30 p.m. Little Miss and Mr. Annabelle introduction and ribbon cutting for festival.
6:30 p.m. Flower show opens.
6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Music by Back Porch Company featuring Warren and Carla Anderson, Stuart Anderson and Richard Johnson. Bring lawn chairs or blankets.
Saturday, June 12
Anna City Park
9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Craft fair, vendors open.
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Carriage rides with Doug and Beth Hileman.
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Painting party in the exhibition building. The price of $15 includes all art supplies for one 8 by 10 painting and instructors to assist. Preregistration is not required, but those who would like to participate are asked to contact Lee by phone at 1-904-625-1109 or email at vabchlee@gmail.com. Participants are invited to bring a drink and snacks.
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Paint the Town. Participants will transform one of the streets at the park into a huge painting. Children and adults are invited to paint a 4-foot by 4-foot square. All paints, brushes and a square are provided. The fee is $15.
Noon to 9 p.m. Alto Vineyards of Alto Pass will be serving wine, beer and Sangria. Must be 21 to enter area.
1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Free swim at the Anna City Pool.
1 p.m. Magic show with Chris Egelston.
2:30 p.m. Birds of prey show.
4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Anna Kiwanis Club fish fry. $10 per dinner. Tickets will be sold at the Kiwanis building.
6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Diamond Dog Band. Bring lawn chairs or blankets.
Sunday, June 13
Anna City Park
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Trilogy Challenge Doubles Disc golf tournament presented by Dynamic Discs.
Registration begins at 9 a.m. on the day of the tournament, with early registration available.
Registration fee of $35 per player, paid the day of the tournament.
Each player will receive three discs, a microfiber towel and a burst mini.
The teams will be drawn at random after the signups.
Both members of the top three teams will receive Dynamic Disc gift cards and the first place team will also take home a portable disc golf basket.
There will be an $5 optional Ace pot and free CTP’s.
This will be a 36-hole tournament. The first 18 holes will be from the red tees with the second 18 played from the blue tees. 30 minute break between rounds.
Early signup is advised. Forty spots are open. To RSVP and for more information, call John Wingate, 618-697-2479.
9 a.m. to noon. Pick up flower arrangements that were entered in the flower show.