Cliché aside, the 9th Annual TroyFest is shaping up to be the “biggest and best ever.”

Stephanie Baker, TroyFest arts/crafts chair, said that TroyFest 2011 could boast of both the quality and quantity of the exhibitors.

“I really think this is our best year ever with 75 of the areas most highly regarded artists and craftsmen participating,” Baker said. “I would like to think that TroyFest is growing our reputation among artists and that our return artists are recommending us when they go to other shows. We offer good hospitality and the community welcomes the artists and craftsmen enthusiastically.”

Baker said another reason for the growing interest in TroyFest is the increasing number of festival sponsors.

“With increased sponsor support, we are able to have a wider range of advertising,” Baker said. “The result is that we generate more interest and get more participation.”

The artists will exhibit fine arts and crafts on the downtown square on Saturday, 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Several artists will demonstrate their trade and talents.

“With more than a dozen food vendors plus kids activities and community booths, we will have the largest TroyFest yet,” Baker said.

“Many of our artists are returning favorites such as Charles Adams, stained glass; Dawn Prietz, pottery; Bill Hill, drawing; Dwight Ward, bird shacks; Gail Carroll, pottery and Delia Stone, jewelry. We have several new artists that we expect will draw a lot of interest. We have a portrait artist as well as a caricature artist this year.

“Our juried artists represent a good variety and diverse mix, everything from folk art to impressionist painting, forged iron to delicate jewelry and many beautiful crafts that are both decorative and functional. Of course, we have some vendors selling handcrafted children’s clothes, soaps, kids’ toys and door hangers that I expect will be very popular.”

Al Head, Alabama State Council on the Arts, executive director, will be the lead judge for the Juried Artists at TroyFest 2011.

“Or course, art is not just visual,” Baker said. “We’ll have several groups performing art in the square gazebo as well as on the Care Ambulance entertainment stage. Also, the film festival will offer a wide selection of films, with the highlight being the Alabama Showcase featuring Alabama filmmakers and subjects.”