The 11th annual Artists in the Garden tour takes place Sunday, July 21.
The event is a self-guided tour of five residential gardens and one community garden that patrons can explore at their leisure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. where they will find artisans and performers showcasing their talent.
This is formerly a fundraising project presented by the Two Rivers Gallery. The gallery offered it to the Prince George & District Community Arts Council, who happily accepted the challenge.
"How we are approaching it this year is to engage our guilds to participate and you will see a huge variety of what they have to offer throughout the beautiful gardens," said Lisa Redpath, program coordinator at the arts council.
There will be representatives from the artists' workshop, artists' co-op, wood turners, potters' guild, Prince George photographic society, fibre arts guild, as well as several aboriginal carvers, and individual artists Lesley White, Andrew Mooney, Laura Ejac, and Corey Hardeman. Artists who have opened their garden for the tour, including Eleanor Riley and Karen Heathman, will open their art studios as part of the event as well.
There's also entertainment in each garden.
"We have Granville Johnson, Raghu Lokanathan, and Ali Henry who will perform in the gardens, and we'll keep some entertainers as surprises," said Redpath. "And, of course, there's always food at this event so there's lots of nibblies and artsy food, as I call it."
The ticket is the map of the self-guided tour and the starting point is wherever the patron is in the community. Every stop is a garden party where the guest can stay as long as they wish, Redpath explained.
"It's a very relaxed day and it's a great day to go out with a group of girlfriends or with your spouse, and have lunch half way through," she added. "I believe it's probably the highlight of the social calendar for anyone in the arts community. People really look forward to this event and hopefully that will continue."
Tickets are $30 for adults and children five to 12 are $12 each, on sale at the arts council's Studio 2880 and the Two Rivers Gallery.
