Joan Hilliard, an artist, suggested the idea of a Fine Arts Festival

41 years ago the Roswell Recreation Association began looking for a signature event to raise funds for the city’s recreational needs. Joan Hilliard, an artist, suggested the idea of a Fine Arts Festival in the Town Square. The event would bring attention to the arts, give local artists a place to display their works and raise funds for youth recreational needs. Thus was the beginning ……

The Roswell Recreation Association began in the early 1950s. They did typical fundraisers like spaghetti dinners, tours of homes, etc. But once the set their sights on creating an arts festival, true success began. In hind sight, this festival was certainly a boost in setting Roswell on the path to being recognized as an “arts community”. Today, there are numerous galleries and working artists studios in the area, artwalks, art festivals, and many special art events and activities abound. Although some of the committee members were not real sure exactly what an arts festival was, they decided to give it a try, never dreaming that the event would one day attract very large crowds, and certainly they did not realize the financial success they would achieve. Over the years the Roswell Recreation Association has contributed over $773,074 to recreational needs of Roswell. The latest being a Sprayground and Rock Park that will be installed at Riverside Park.

Ah yes, now that huge crowds flock to the event food vendors struggle to get a space. But it was not always so. In the early years, vendors were not as easy to come by. The Festival could not offer the array of sandwiches, burgers, salads, ice creams, funnel cakes, etc. that are available today. And, restaurants in Roswell were not as abundant 41 years ago. So, volunteers, never to be defeated in their goal of festival building, cooked and served hotdogs and soft drinks. Ironically, today, one of the favorite food concessions is still the “Corn Dog” stand.

Source: http://www.northfultontimes.com/living/art/roswell-celebrates-41st-annual-roswell-arts-festiv.shtml