Volunteer, artist talk 30 years of Panoply Arts Festival

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — Art, music, delicious food, and community all in the heart of Huntsville, the 42nd annual Panoply Arts Festival has arrived.

If you live in The Rocket City, then you’re no stranger to the festival.

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It brings the community together and attracts visitors from all across the country, but some volunteers and artists who’ve been part of the action for decades now, say there’s no place quite like it.

Susie Garrett has been a part of the Panoply Arts Festival for over 30 years. For the first time in its history, the event will include an interactive art exhibit entitled “The Big Swim” created by Garrett.

The Huntsville-based artist says the event has evolved significantly over the years bettering the connection between guests and creators.

“They’ve got tents where you can explore and do all kinds of stuff, and it’s expanded giving individuals the opportunity to interact with art,” Garret said.

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Garrett explained how the event offers a platform for artists to showcase their work.

“People need to be allowed to interact with it on a level that they’re comfortable with,” she said. “Not everybody wants to go into a museum setting, so it needs to be accessible, and this festival makes art accessible.”

Dozens of people help put the festival together including volunteers like Jan Stairhime. For Stairhime who’s been volunteering for 30 years, she too has seen the evolution of panoply.

“When I first started volunteering with Panoply we had 4 stages, it was open to the public it was a free event and it became very large,” Stairhime explained. “Now, it’s quieter it’s more family oriented and we’re able to offer a lot more.”

Hundreds attended the festival’s opening day and this year organizers are expecting over 70,000 people to attend over the course of the weekend. Stairhime says she loves how it brings people together from all walks of life.

“When you come out here there are people from all over and I get to meet them, I get to meet their families and talk about their experiences and their lives,” Stairhime told News 19. “It’s been a really growing experience for me.”

The Panoply Arts Festival will run through Sunday, April 28.

Some of your favorite News 19 faces will be there on Saturday, so be sure to give us a visit. We’re looking forward to meeting everyone!

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