Lovers of art and nature are invited to this year’s fourth Annual Greenway Art Festival on Saturday, Sept. 20, to experience a blend of the outdoors and the visual and performing arts.

The Greenway Art Festival will be held at the Thompson Lane Trailhead of the Stones River Greenway from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Thompson Lane Trailhead is one of nine trailheads of the Murfreesboro Greenway System and has been home to the festival since its beginning in 2005. Festivalgoers will be able to spend the day walking the trail to view works by artists from Middle Tennessee and the Murfreesboro area.

Artists participating in the festival will present original works that include oil painting, acrylics, watercolor, sculpting, silverworks, pottery, glassworks, and more. Visitors will have a chance to talk with vendors about their work and purchase original pieces.

Angela Jackson, Program Coordinator for the Stones River Greenway and Wetlands, says this year’s festival will be larger than those in previous years and is enthusiastic about the festival’s continued growth.

“Since our first festival in 2005, we have more than doubled the number of participating artists, and the community has had an equally positive response,” Jackson said. “This year we will have over 60 booths of local artists that will be displaying and selling their works.”

Jackson believes that the success of the festival is largely due to its location at the Greenway.

“I feel that nature is art,” Jackson said. “There is beauty all around us, and as Murfreesboro becomes more and more urban, our citizens are seeking a connection with nature by visiting the Greenway and our parks.”

Artists who have participated in past festivals also believe that the pairing of their artwork and the natural setting of the Greenway make the experience more enjoyable for them and the public.

Tom Fuhrman, a glass artisan from Middle Tennessee and a participant in last year’s festival, believes the grouping of art and nature is what makes the festival stand apart from other art exhibitions.

“The Greenway Art Festival has in the past few years become a very interesting and well organized art festival,” Fuhrman said. “Its setting by the river walkway is a delightful place to exhibit art and provide a venue in a natural setting that is not impeded by the usual expanse of concrete, asphalt and vehicular traffic.”

The quality of artwork on display at the Greenway Festival is another attractive feature for artists and visitors. Artists are hand-picked each year by a committee that judges submitted artwork and ultimately decides who will display work along the Greenway trail.

“It is a juried festival,” Jackson said. “Our committee makes artist selections based on consideration for subject, overall quality, originality and presentation.”

The Greenway Festival is designed to be an experience for the entire family. Several more children’s activities and food vendors have been added to this year’s festival, and local musicians will perform along the trail throughout the day. Jackson said she hopes the public will come and experience the art and natural beauty of the Murfreesboro Greenway.

“When planning programs, I try to reach a broad audience and create activities that will appeal to people that might have otherwise never visited the Greenway,” Jackson said. “Nature and art are intricately linked together, and we are lucky to host a day to celebrate this connection.”

The Thompson Lane Trailhead is located at 2240 N. Thompson Lane, Murfreesboro. Admission is free. Artists will have original pieces available for purchase. Most vendors will be unable to accept credit cards. For more information about artists or activities, contact Rachel Singer at 893-2141 or e-mail rsinger@murfreesborotn.gov.

IF YOU GO:

Price: Free