With the 9th Annual TroyFest arts celebration just around the corner, plans are being finalized for what is shaping up to be one of the biggest and best arts and crafts shows in recent years.

Stephanie Baker, TroyFest committee member, said the number of artists and craftsmen continues to grow and should be close to a record number for the 2011 festival.

“We will have a wide variety of exhibitors including those who have been with us for several years as well as new entries,” Baker said. “We are excited to welcome back our tried and true artists and craftsmen and to introduce new people to TroyFest.”

The mix of the familiar and the new will not only be evident in the arts and crafts areas of TroyFest but in the areas of entertainment, children’s activities and food vendors.

“Entertainment is a big part of TroyFest each year and we are going to do something a little different this year,” Baker said. “Everyone can expect the same outstanding entertainment on the Festival stage – from gospel to jazz music and dancing. Then, at the Gazebo on the square, we’ll have picking and singing, bluegrass style. And, as an added feature on Saturday afternoon, we’ll have local songwriters perform their own works at theGazebo.”

Baker said art comes in a lot of forms and music is one of those forms.

“We want to provide an opportunity at TroyFest to showcase local groups,” she said. “This showcase will bring something different and exciting to TroyFest and we are looking forward to hearing our local talent perform.”

Because TroyFest is a family event, the Children’s Corner will continue to offer fun and games for children of all ages.

“Parents are encouraged to bring their children and expose them to some of the best of all forms of art,” Baker said. “You never know what might spark an interest in a child.”

Food vendors bring the “festival flavor” to TroyFest with blooming onions and funnel cakes and also offer the “meat and taters” kind of fare that sticks to the ribs.

At the Johnson Center for the Arts, the Troy City School Art Show will be a featured exhibit along with Mary Ann Casey’s “Behind the Images: Alabama Stories” exhibition. The Alabama Film Festival is held in conjunction with TroyFest and a variety of films will be shown in The Studio during the Festival adding even greater variety to the weekend event.

“TroyFest will offer something for all ages so we hope that everyone will make plans now to make TroyFest a part of their weekend plans for April 30 and May 1.”

TroyFest hours are different this year. The Festival will get underway at 9 a.m. on Saturday and close at 6 p.m. and open again at 10 a.m. on Sunday and close at 5 p.m.

Admission is free and so is the fun.