Ballyhoo Festival may bring regional and nationally acclaimed fine artists to Gulf State Park each spring, but this year's event, set for March 7-8, will also feature Dolphin art.

Students in Austin Boyd at Gulf Shores High School and Megan Michaelson at Gulf Shores Middle School have been creating pieces to be exhibited at the festival this weekend. The overall festival is juried, and this work will be no different. There will be winners for first, second and third places for both schools, according to Eloise Thomley with the festival. Cash prizes and ribbons will be presented to all winners.

"The Ballyhoo Festival of Fine Art and Culture is honored to include these young students in our event, and we offer a special thank you to their instructors," Thomley said. "One of our goals is to encourage art in all areas and for all ages."

In addition to the juried fine art show of over 100 artists from all over the country, food and other vendors will be set up.

“You might be interested in a handmade basket by Astou Dioum of New York City who will also be demonstrating her craft. You will see beautiful handmade jewelry by Scott Macklin of San Diego California, stained glass by Amy Primmir of Powhatan, Virginia and handmade cowboy hats by Ronia Grillos from Durango, Colorado and amazing copper art by Royal Miree of Birmingham, Alabama. Paintings, pottery, textile art, metal sculpture, wood sculpture, jewelry and many more mediums of art from 25 states will be available for your selection,” Thomley said.

The Ballyhoo Festival is a juried fine art event, but it also features the culture of other regions. Saturday, March 7, brings the only federally recognized Native American tribe in Alabama, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.

Children and adults learn the history of the Poarch Band through historical narrative by the event director of the Pow Wow Club. Two performances at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. of original tribal dance in ceremonial regalia create the cultural entertainment highlight of the day.

On Sunday, March 8, the cultural focus is on Early Americana Appalachian music in the form of a fiddle and banjo competition presented by FloraBama and the Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival. Fiddle and banjo players come from many states to participate in this boot kicking event. Of course, buck dancers are always welcome. Visitors can bring a chair or lounge on the grass while they enjoy the show.

There will be plenty of art projects for creative little minds. In addition, children will enjoy games presented by the Flip City Dazzlers Dance Team. The team is raising money for a trip to New York City to perform at Carnegie Hall with other dance teams. They will have fun games like bottle ring toss, ping pong cup toss, kiddy duck pond, kickball darts, muffin tin cups and creating noise makers.

Food options include Cajun crawfish and Gumbolaya, Chinese food, homemade ice cream, pork, shrimp and chicken tacos, kettle corn and, of course, hamburgers and hot dogs by the Kiwanis Club and Funnel Cakes by OWA, plus more options. The Coastal Alabama Chamber of Commerce will be selling wine and beer as well as bottled water and soft drinks.

Festival hours are Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Shelby Lake in Gulf State Park, 20110 State Park Road, Hwy. 135, Gulf Shores.

Parking is available at Gulf State Pier and Gulf Shores Pavilion, 22250 E. Beach Blvd., for $10. Free parking is available at Gulf Shores Elementary School, 1600 E. 3rd St., with shuttles running from 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Single-vehicle transportation services can drop guests off at the entrance to the festival. Handicapped parking is inside the festival site and free.

Ballyhoo is a nonprofit event presented in part by the Alabama State Council on the Arts and Visit Alabama Beaches. For more information, go to https://www.ballyhoofestival.com/.