32nd annual Art in the Park this weekend

SOUTH PORTLAND — The must-attend event of the South Portland summer is upon us and it promises to be better than ever.

“Everything that’s wonderful about Art in the Park, is back,” said Linda Eastman, event chairwoman. “We’ve just enhanced it.”

This year’s Art in the Park show runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 13, in South Portland’s Mill Creek Park, located just off Broadway, between Ocean and Cottage streets.

As always, the main attraction is 185 fine artists and photographers, from across Maine and New England, who will offer their works for sale while also vying for one of 10 prizes, including the $800 Judges’ Award for Best-in-Show.

In addition, the student art tent returns, featuring work from more than 300 students in grades K-12. Each year, three student works are selected for use in promotional materials, including the Art in the Park program (by Michelle Roberts – Grade 11, South Portland Portland High School), poster (by Grace Keiter, Grade 11, South Portland High School) and T-shirt (by Maura Green, Grade 8, Mahoney Middle School), the latter sponsored by Norway Savings Bank.

This year’s event is dedicated to Mary Kahl, a South Portland resident and longtime Art in the Park organizer who died last month at the age of 59. Kahl was chairwoman of the event for 11 years, after being active in the Art in the Park since 1991.

In the end, organizers say, Art in the Park is about more than just art. It’s a family event that offers plenty for youngsters to do, as well.

“This particular year, we’ve paid special attention to what we call ‘Kids in the Park,’” said Eastman.

As always, a kids’ activity area, sponsored by Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution, will be open near the park’s Green Belt Trail from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. In addition to face painting, youngsters can undertake projects such as sand art, scratch art, and knapsack making under the supervision of show volunteers, allowing parents to peruse the paintings.

New this year, Town & Country Federal Credit Union is sponsoring an hour-long kids’ concert by longtime children’s entertainer Rick Charette.

“This is very exciting,” said Eastman, “because what we’ve discovered is it’s the parents of the children who are most excited about seeing Rick Charette, because they remember him from when they were young.”

Locaated next to the Kids in the Park area, at the corner of Broadway and Ocean Street will be the food court, open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Vendors this year include: Breakwater Daybreak Rotary Club (serving hamburgers, hot dogs, sausage sandwiches, chips and soda); CVC Catering Group (pulled pork, wraps, chips, cookies and whoopie pies); India Palace (authentic India cuisine, such as somasa, pakora and chicken tikka masala, as well as lamb and vegetable curries); Lobster on the "Roll" (fresh Maine lobster rolls and crab rolls); Town & Country Federal Credit Union (Captain Eli's soda – raising money for the Ending Hunger Campaign); Verbena eat right now (wraps, salads, muffins and cookies); and Pizza By Fire (wood-fired pizza).

Also, next to the Food Court, a “Wellness Area” will offer chair massage, reflexology, acupuncture, and home and body items, from vendors including SOMA and Healthy Body Fit Mind.

Finally, Jim Gallant, of New Gloucester, a member of the Seacoast Guitar Society, will perform “uptempo guitar music” in the park’s gazebo from 1:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m., providing an acoustic backdrop designed to enhance enjoyment of the many artworks on display.

Art in the Park will go on, barring an “all-day rain event.” Should the show need to be pushed back to Sunday, Aug. 14, notice will be posted at the website www.artintheparkmaine.com.