Whether in the South of France or the South of the USA, we all love an art festival.
![Dogwood Festival in Atlanta Georgia](https://i0.wp.com/bfblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/img_1485.jpg?resize=225%2C300&ssl=1)
Last weekend was the 79th Annual Dogwood Festival in Atlanta, Georgia. There, among thousands of art lovers and onlookers, I was struck by how much the event reminded me of a Saturday Market in France. Especially now that tourists must be arriving.
Imaginative and real-life paintings
![IMG_1424 IMG_1424](https://i0.wp.com/barefootblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/img_1424-scaled.jpg?w=262&h=262&crop=1&ssl=1)
![IMG_1418 IMG_1418](https://i0.wp.com/barefootblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/img_1418-scaled.jpg?w=262&h=262&crop=1&ssl=1)
![IMG_1399 Paintings at the Dogwood Art Festival](https://i0.wp.com/barefootblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/img_1399-scaled.jpg?w=262&h=262&crop=1&ssl=1)
Pottery galore
![IMG_1416 Handmade pottery and clay figures](https://i0.wp.com/barefootblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/img_1416-scaled.jpg?w=262&h=262&crop=1&ssl=1)
![IMG_1415 IMG_1415](https://i0.wp.com/barefootblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/img_1415.jpg?w=262&h=262&crop=1&ssl=1)
![IMG_1406 IMG_1406](https://i0.wp.com/barefootblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/img_1406-scaled.jpg?w=262&h=262&crop=1&ssl=1)
Strange and beautiful glass sculptures, flowers, and things made of wood
![IMG_1471 IMG_1471](https://i0.wp.com/barefootblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/img_1471-scaled.jpg?w=178&h=267&ssl=1)
![IMG_1538 IMG_1538](https://i0.wp.com/barefootblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/img_1538-scaled.jpg?w=200&h=267&ssl=1)
![IMG_1534 IMG_1534](https://i0.wp.com/barefootblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/img_1534-scaled.jpg?w=200&h=267&ssl=1)
![IMG_1472 IMG_1472](https://i0.wp.com/barefootblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/img_1472.jpg?w=206&h=267&ssl=1)
![IMG_1456 IMG_1456](https://i0.wp.com/barefootblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/img_1456-scaled.jpg?w=439&h=585&ssl=1)
![IMG_1507 IMG_1507](https://i0.wp.com/barefootblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/img_1507.jpg?w=353&h=585&ssl=1)
Lots of favorite foods from the South and beyond
![IMG_1478 Maryland crab cakes](https://i0.wp.com/barefootblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/img_1478.jpg?w=262&h=262&crop=1&ssl=1)
![IMG_1477 Fried chicken, barbecue and tacos](https://i0.wp.com/barefootblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/img_1477.jpg?w=262&h=262&crop=1&ssl=1)
![IMG_1448 IMG_1448](https://i0.wp.com/barefootblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/img_1448-scaled.jpg?w=262&h=262&crop=1&ssl=1)
Like in France, funnel cakes are a crowd-pleaser.
![IMG_1449 IMG_1449](https://i0.wp.com/barefootblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/img_1449-scaled.jpg?w=262&h=262&crop=1&ssl=1)
![IMG_1454 IMG_1454](https://i0.wp.com/barefootblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/img_1454.jpg?w=262&h=262&crop=1&ssl=1)
![IMG_1452 IMG_1452](https://i0.wp.com/barefootblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/img_1452.jpg?w=262&h=262&crop=1&ssl=1)
… and “straight from France” …
![IMG_1509 IMG_1509](https://i0.wp.com/barefootblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/img_1509.jpg?w=396&h=396&crop=1&ssl=1)
![IMG_1513 IMG_1513](https://i0.wp.com/barefootblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/img_1513-scaled.jpg?w=396&h=396&crop=1&ssl=1)
There is entertainment for kids.
![IMG_1501 Kid's painting classes](https://i0.wp.com/barefootblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/img_1501.jpg?w=262&h=262&crop=1&ssl=1)
![IMG_1434 IMG_1434](https://i0.wp.com/barefootblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/img_1434-scaled.jpg?w=262&h=262&crop=1&ssl=1)
![IMG_1498 Puppeteers](https://i0.wp.com/barefootblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/img_1498.jpg?w=262&h=262&crop=1&ssl=1)
… and ducks
Body oils and scrubs with hot butter grits!??!
![IMG_1464 IMG_1464](https://i0.wp.com/barefootblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/img_1464-scaled.jpg?w=262&h=262&crop=1&ssl=1)
![IMG_1463 IMG_1463](https://i0.wp.com/barefootblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/img_1463-scaled.jpg?w=262&h=262&crop=1&ssl=1)
![IMG_1462 IMG_1462](https://i0.wp.com/barefootblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/img_1462-scaled.jpg?w=262&h=262&crop=1&ssl=1)
My favorite “best of the show” was a creation called “Fair Hair,” beautifully modeled below.
When I asked the young ladies and their parents if I could take their picture for a blog about France, they were thrilled.
“We’re going to be famous!” I heard them say as they walked away.
![IMG_1442 IMG_1442](https://i0.wp.com/barefootblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/img_1442-scaled.jpg?w=396&h=396&crop=1&ssl=1)
![IMG_1444 "Fair Hair"](https://i0.wp.com/barefootblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/img_1444-scaled.jpg?w=396&h=396&crop=1&ssl=1)
So, now that you’ve spent the day seeing Atlanta’s take on art festivals, what do you think? Are we more alike? oOrDifferent?
![IMG_1543 IMG_1543](https://i0.wp.com/barefootblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/img_1543.jpg?w=262&h=262&crop=1&ssl=1)
![IMG_1554 IMG_1554](https://i0.wp.com/barefootblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/img_1554.jpg?w=262&h=262&crop=1&ssl=1)
![IMG_1475 IMG_1475](https://i0.wp.com/barefootblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/img_1475-scaled.jpg?w=262&h=262&crop=1&ssl=1)