Finster Fest returns to Howard Finster’s Paradise Garden in Pennville this weekend. The event runs Saturday and Sunday and will feature more than 65 folk, craft and fine artists displaying and selling their work as well as live music performances. In addition, guests can enjoy Southern food, a children’s art activity area and, of course, the chance to tour Howard Finster’s famous folk art environment.

This year’s featured artists hail from 14 states. Musical performances will take place in several locations around the property. The 15 musical performances over the two-day festival are an eclectic line-up with folk, Americana, gospel, bluegrass, indie, and country represented.

The festival food focuses on Southern fare such as barbecue ribs, chicken with all the trimmings and the Chattooga Garden Club’s famous Paradise pimento cheese sandwiches, along with a huge spread of homemade pound cake and sweet tea.

A VIP Patron Hospitality package is filled with two days of special patron benefits. To find out more about the VIP events, call Paradise Garden at 706-808-0800.

The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. General admission is $10 (children 12 and under free), Chattooga County residents and Paradise Garden members are $5. Parking is at the Walmart Supercenter on U.S. 27 just north of the venue, with a complimentary 3-minute shuttle provided all day.

Handicap parking is available on-site at the Garden.

Finster Fest launched in 1991 and draws more than 2,100 people from all over the Southeast.

Paradise Garden is on the National Register of Historic Places.