Are you looking for your next road trip?  Load the car up and look no further than Lake City, South Carolina!  ArtFields 2019 is currently going on, and you don’t want to miss everything it has to offer. ArtFields is the largest art competition of its kind in the Southeast, with a focus on celebrating and awarding artists during the 9-day competition & exhibition.  Although we are in day 6, there are still 3 more days of artwork, live music, great food, and fun activities.  Don’t forget to pose in front of one of our many colorful murals for the perfect Instagram posting, and vote for all of your favorite artwork for the 2019 People’s Choice Awards.  With over $140,000 up for grabs, don’t miss out on the opportunity to be a small part of such a big competition!  Check out this awesome podcast with ArtFields Program Manager Carla Angus with SC PublicRadio. 

It is truly amazing to see such a vibrant town become even more active during ArtFields.  Competing artists are vying to win prize money, but visitors are sure to see something that grabs their eye; whether it be an oversized banana, a life-sized sheep made from spark plugs, a hand-made quilt, or an interactive walk-under sea featuring a group of stingrays. ArtFields Jr.is another must-see. You’ll be thrilled at the artwork on display from SouthCarolina students in grades 1 - 12.

I can’t forget about the great dining options in Lake City that seem to pop up, literally, out of nowhere before the competition brings thousands of visitors into town.  SNAX Gourmet Ice Cream and Hot Dogs is the newest addition to Lake City that features a variety of ice cream favorites to pair with your favorite slaw dog.  The ArtFields “pop-up” restaurant,118 Bar and Grille, is a local favorite that features pub-styled entrees and appetizers that pair well with signature drinks and cold beer after a long day of walking the streets checking out all of the art venues.  One of my favorites, Piggybacks Barbeque and Catfish, is Lake City’s first annual LakeCity Launchpad winner.  Owners Mitchell and Shannon Sims, who were popular favorites on our festival & event circuit for years before they entered our business competition that landed them their new “brick & mortar”restaurant, cook everything from brisket tacos to seared tuna!

Lastly, I encourage you to stop by the NEW VISITORS CENTER located in the old ArtFields building at 110 East Main Street during your visit to LakeCity.  Come grab a swag bag filled with your Lake City favorites. Come chat with myself or one of the other staff members about what’s going on around town and grab a complimentary coffee on us.  See you soon!

Check out these links, Lake City - ArtFields was featured in the NEWS!

Free Times, Lake City’s ArtFields Is a Central Tradition and a Trial for Many Midlands Artists: https://www.free-times.com/arts/lake-city-s-artfields-is-a-central-tradition-and-a/article_ebeeb412-663f-11e9-b7a4-f39c7212c60b.html

Sumter Item, All about the art: ArtFields comes to Lake City; Sumter, Clarendon, Camden artists will compete: https://www.theitem.com/stories/all-about-the,326315

SC Now, Hanging around: ArtFields returns to fill Lake City with color: https://www.scnow.com/news/pee_dee_weekly/article_879a5fd4-63a6-11e9-ac22-5b8df443ea49.html

Lake City color run draws nearly 200: https://www.scnow.com/news/local/article_3dde133a-6942-11e9-8e63-f382fd9036d6.html

Portrait of a portrait artist: Columbia Native wins ArtFields contest: https://www.scnow.com/news/local/article_11697df6-6a02-11e9-88aa-33c2721a5c97.html

ArtFamily: Three generations of Askinses have taken part in ArtFields: https://www.scnow.com/news/local/article_eed1a386-6ae2-11e9-9243-7f4969e94295.html