By Lisa McPeek

The Riverfront Art Festival takes place at Genoa Park along the Scioto River Sept. 18-20. Featuring almost 150 local and national artists, the festival had an estimated attendance of 20,000 last year. This year the event promises even more entertainment, with its best lineup of music and performances yet.

The event made its debut in 2006 as the Goodale Park Art Festival, but has since changed locations and names. The stretch of land along Washington Boulevard and the Scioto River better accomodates the festival's growing fan base.

What remains the same, however, is the event's dedication to celebrating art and cutting down the barrier between artists and art fans. Displays feature much diversity in work, including sculpture, oil paintings, wire art, pottery and wearable art, along with the artists who created them, who are on site to discuss their pieces.
Admission is free.

The festival features food and drink vendors, as well as plenty of live entertainment. The performance schedule this year includes Opera Columbus Sept. 19. Portions of Puccini's classic opera La Bohème will be performed in English and directed by Robert Post, who has given his one-man shows throughout the country.

Other acts expected to perform are jazz artists Shaun Booker and Sabrina Tutstone and the WZJA Jazz Preview on Friday, and Micah Kesselring, Fo Mo Deep Jazz Fusion and WaterFire, featuring Opera Columbus on Saturday. Sunday features folk rock musician Rich Skowronski and acoustic rock group Common Soul.

Riverfront Art Festival begins Sept. 18 from 5-9 p.m. Saturday's hours are 12-10 p.m. and Sunday is open from 12-5 p.m. For more information, visit www.byhandevents.com.