This Saturday, April 20, marks Southland Jubilee’s 15th annual heritage arts festival held throughout the streets of downtown Greensboro from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Beginning in 1998, Southland Jubilee has been downtown Greensboro’s premier event, which has developed a reputation across the region as a quality heritage arts festival packed with arts and crafts, food and children’s activities. Southland Jubilee is excited to welcome many new and returning vendors to this year’s festival.

A full day of entertainment is scheduled for the Reynolds Plantation and The Ritz-Carlton Lodge Main Stage. During our morning set, Joey Peirce and Native Heart will be telling Native American stories beginning at 9:30 a.m. Be sure to catch 306 South Main Band around 10:30 a.m. as they will be playing all the hits from the 1960s to today. From noon to 1 p.m. the Lake Oconee Academy Band of Titans will be performing followed by the local Senior Citizen Center inviting everyone to join the group doing Line Dancing. Up next will be John Dunn and the Jazzman Band from 1:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. and Eric Dodd and his band will be wrapping up the festival starting at 3 p.m.

Festival Hall will have events all throughout the day as well. You will not want to miss one of the two “Let’s Get Wild” reptile shows at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Vote on Southland Jubilee’s Signature Dish Competition brought to you by the Greene County Highschool Culinary Arts Students from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and an all day art exhibit featuring Greensboro Elementary School and Lake Oconee Academy student artwork. These events are sponsored by Plum Creek.

In addition to the events taking place in Festival Hall, the younger attendees will be delighted with the Children’s Area, located behind the courthouse. The area will include a rock wall, spider jump, bounce houses sponsored by Family Connections and pony rides. Have your face painted or stop by the Athens Tech tent to have your hair fixed festival style. Be sure to stop by the Novelis tent a meet the famous “Can Man.”

Festival goers will be able to stroll along the streets which will be lined with vendors selling handcrafted pottery, jewelry, baskets, soaps, candles, glassware, textiles, art, woodcrafts and more. Greensboro’s own downtown merchants will also be offering special sidewalk sales for the Jubilee.

Stroll through South Main Street to see vintage muscle cars and pick-ups at the Georgia Classic Cruisers car show. You can expect to see as many as 150 cars including antiques, classics, street rods and special interest cars.

Antique tractors, big and small, will line Greene Street and check out Ray Foster’s antique tractor, Liberty Bell, will be making an appearance near the agricultural area.

Be sure to visit the agricultural tent with baby chicken, rabbits and other farm animals sponsored by Farm Bureau and 4-H.

DOCK 103.9 will broadcast a live remote from the corner of the Southland Jubilee headquarters located at 101 N. Main Street from 10 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

New this year is Jubilee Headquarters located at 101 N. Main Street. Stop by to purchase your official Southland Jubilee shirt and Koozie. Also, pick up a hand fan and get all of the information you need right in one location.

Whether it is the live performances, arts and crafts, classic cars, heritage demonstrations, children’s activities, delicious funnel cakes and other festival food, or the agricultural and antique tractor exhibits, festival-goers will find old favorites and should expect a few new surprises.

Southland Jubilee 2013 promises to be a true celebration of our Georgia heritage, our community and Jubilee’s continued success. “We want to thank everyone in the community for their continued support of Southland Jubilee because without it, the festival would not be as successful as it is every year,” said Kendrick Harris from Greensboro Better Hometown.

This festival is possible because of the generous financial support from local businesses listed below.

St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital, Lake Oconee Tourism, Angela Taylor Design and Advertising, Advanced Disposal, Georgia Power, BankSouth, Lake Oconee Dentistry, First Call Pregnancy Center, Novelis, NIBCO, INC, Athens Technical College, C.W. Smith Insurance Agency, Standridge Color Corporation, Farmers Bank and Goodwin Manor.

For more information about Southland Jubilee visit www.SouthlandJubilee.com or call (706) 453-7674.