The TroyFest planning committee is working through artist applications and finalizing the list of participants for the upcoming festival.

“We are focusing on bringing great artists to the festival,” said Morgan Drinkard, TroyFest committee member. “We not only want the crowd favorites, those who have been in the festival in the past, but we also want the best artists the southeast has to offer.”

The 13th TroyFest Art and Craft Festival, held in honor and memory of Jean Lake, will be April 25 and 26 in Downtown Troy.

The festival draws a variety of artists, from visual arts to folk arts to crafts, and over the years the festival has become a favorite of participants.

“They call us the friendliest festival,” Drinkard said. “The patrons, they trust us. They trust that if they take time out of their day to drive to the festival, when they get there, we are going to have the best arts.”

TroyFest attracts approximately 10,000 people to downtown Troy each year. However, there is another aspect the festival’s committee members take into consideration as regard to their success.

“How we know we have had a good festival is through our artists,” she said. “Not only in terms of them selling their arts, but also whether the artists felt they have created relationships and connected with community members.”

Drinkard said it is Important for vendors and festival attendees to cultivate relationships within the arts.

Besides the showcase of regional arts, TroyFest also offers various activities including the T-shirt design contest, Kids Corner, food vendors and entertainment.

According to Catherine Jordan, TroyFest T-shirt chairman, information for the contest has been distributed to both public and private schools from first to fifth grade within the city and county.

“Submissions for the T-shirt design will be collected next Monday,” Jordan said. “Hopefully we will be able to announce the winner by the end of next week. We’ll go into the school and surprise the student… The winner will also be recognized at their school and the festival.”

The chosen design will be featured on this year TroyFest T-shirt.

“Children are usually colorful and interesting,” Jordon said. “We are interested to see what simple and colorful arts they can design. This also brings the opportunity to their classroom and encourages the students to celebrate the arts.”

Students’ artworks will also be on display at the Johnson Center for the Arts, as part of TroyFest from April 1 to April 27.

Entry to TroyFest is free and community members can donate to the Jean Lake purchase program to get TroyFest bucks, which can be spent at the festival. Donations will go in part towards scholarships, Drinkard said.