Fiber Art Installations Back at Arts in the Heart
Yarn isn’t just for scarves anymore, it’s become a bold medium for large-scale art. Known as yarn bombing or fiber installations, these colorful creations transform everyday
MARK YOUR CALENDARS: Arts in the Heart- September 18-20, 2026
Festival is Open Friday 5pm – 9pm, Saturday 11am – 9pm, Sunday 11am – 6pm.
PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR DETAILS ABOUT THE 2026 FESTIVAL.
APPLICATIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR ARTIST VENDORS AND PERFORMERS THIS SPRING.
Thank You for attending and supporting arts in the heart 2025!
Despite a short delay on Saturday afternoon due to an unexpected rain storm, the Festival was a tremendous success this year with our stages filled with great talent all weekend, amazing art everywhere you looked and a huge selection of authentic global food – more than any one person could enjoy over three days! Our volunteers showed up and showed off with stellar support all weekend long and of course we couldn’t have done it without our sponsors, partners, artists and performers. A special shout out to the Arts Council staff and Executive Director Denise Tucker, who worked tirelessly to showcase the arts in our region. Great job everyone <3
Check out photos from the official Festival photographers. A selection is already uploaded for viewing! Thank you CSRA Photography for leading the team!
Thank you for attending to the 44th Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival!
We’re proud to be the catalyst, but we know none of this happened without you, our community and residents, our partners and small businesses, our mighty staff of four, our dynamic festival team and our incredible Arts Council Board. To all members of the Greater Augusta Arts Council, our year-round donors, and every single sponsor who views the arts as a wise investment: thank you. A festival this size takes WORK (all caps), and your belief fuels the sparkle.
This year’s festival was Powered by Amazon, honoring their intentional investment in our creative economy. Big love to the City of Augusta, Destination Augusta, the Augusta Marriott, and ALL our partners for helping craft one of the best weekends of the year.
As Executive Director of the Greater Augusta Arts Council, I was thrilled to walk this festival journey with you.
Denise Tucker
arts in the heart of augusta festival 2025
Arts in the Heart of Augusta ROCKED this Fall with Grammy winning band Soul Asylum on the Global Stage Saturday, Sept. 20th at 7:30pm on the Augusta Common. Soul Asylum are known for their raucous and emphatic combination of punk energy, guitar-fueled firepower, and songs that range from aggressive to heartfelt. They continue to be one of the most inspiring and hardworking bands in the rock scene, having broken through commercially with the double-platinum 1992 album Grave Dancers Union, which contained the Grammy-winning Billboard Hot 100 Top 5 hit “Runaway Train” and No. 1 Modern Rock smash “Somebody to Shove.” Their latest album, “Slowly But Shirley” includes frontman Dave Pirner, drummer Michael Bland, lead guitarist Ryan Smith, bassist Jeremy Tappero and was produced by Steve Jordan, drummer for the Rolling Stones.
Opening for Soul Asylum on Saturday night at 6pm will be Leon & the Peoples, an award-winning Reggae Soul band from NYC, led by internationally acclaimed performer, singer-songwriter, movie & TV actor Leon. Their latest album’s debut single “Love Is A Beautiful Thing” charted #3 on Billboard’s Hot Singles Sales.
The Jazz Stage will be located at 8th Street Market Area Entrance to the Riverwalk and will feature the Pop and R&B Queen Niki Haris, former backup vocalist for Madonna who has performed with jazz greats like Stanley Turrentine, Red Holloway & Ray Charles. The popular Soul Suite Stage will be located inside the Augusta Marriott Hotel on the Riverwalk (a major sponsor of this year’s festival) and will feature viral sensation Comedian Kerwin Claiborne.
On the Community Stage, located at the Amphitheater on the river, Urban Guitar Legend Elliot Holden will be performing. Holden recently appeared in the Tyler Perry film “A Jazzman’s Blues”. The Family Stage will have lots of great family-friendly performances including Piccadilly Puppets from Atlanta.
Festival stages will be booked with remarkable talent all weekend long including dance, cultural, reggae, soul, spoken word, rock, pop, country, theatrical performances and more. Soul Asylum and Niki Haris are funded in part by a grant from Destination Augusta.
These are just a few of the amazing performers to hit our stages. Growing bigger every year, the festival has 150 juried Fine Arts and Crafts artists and five stages of entertainment with everything from hip hop to jazz to rock. The Global Stage also features a diverse selection of cultural music and dance. A festival favorite, the global food village, will tempt lovers of international food with 19 authentic food booths.
A large interactive Family Area is packed with children’s activities, street performers, public art, and our Young Artists Market. Artzilla and Nubag Artist Collectives return with local artists painting live all weekend. The Literary Lounge will feature Georgia authors and book signings.
Pets and coolers are not allowed in the Festival. Lawn chairs are welcomed. Arts in the Heart of Augusta is a rain or shine event.
This FESTIVAL is produced each year by the Greater Augusta Arts Council. Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival is a rain or shine event. Updates regarding inclement weather will be posted to our home page and social media. Registered service animals only, no coolers.
**Entrance to the Festival grants the festival and the greater Augusta Arts Council permission to use photos and videos of festival patrons in promotions, reproductions and presentations representing the festival.
festival stories
Local Artists Alley Presented by the Boll Weevil and 4P Studios
This year has been a challenge on many levels. From power access to layout, but we are working hard to make this year’s festival the best It can be! One of the better outcome
Looking for some Augusta fun? Look for the Hype Team at Arts in the Heart!
Meet the Hype Team at Arts in the Heart: Your Go-To Crew for All Things Augusta! As you stroll through the vibrant streets of downtown Augusta during this year’s Arts in the Hea
Authors Club of Augusta takes on Arts in the Heart’s Literary Lounge!
The Authors Club of Augusta, founded in 1928, is one of the oldest cultural organizations in the CSRA. For nearly a century, it has been a cornerstone of the region’s literary l
K-Drummers Celebrate Cultural Collaboration with a Bold Performance!
Back by popular demand, the K Drum Team of the Korea Center of Greenville, South Carolina will make their third appearance on the Family Stage at Arts in the He
Meet the Fall 2025 Festival Intern, Hannah!
As a senior at Augusta University, I’ve been given the exciting opportunity to intern with the Greater Augusta Arts Council for Fall 2025. With my first month nearly complete, I
Artzilla on 8th Street!
This year, the Artzillards are on 8th Street. Join us in celebrating 10 local artists live creating during Augusta’s biggest Arts and Culture Celebration of the Year. Find Jo
Market Artist Highlight: Tiphiknee DeHerrera – Booth #556
Some artists find their calling later in life, but for Tiphiknee, the spark appeared early, long before she could have imagined where it would lead. Her work today, filled with sur
Musical Theatre Workshops Celebrating 15 Years of Festival Fun!
On the Family Stage at this year’s Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival, we celebrate 15 years of theatre fun with Musical Theatre Workshops! For the past 1.5 decades, the s
Thank You to our major sponsors!
