HUNTSVILLE – Construction cranes have become a fixture in the skyline of owntown Huntsville. Structures being built or site preparation have crews working seemingly nonstop. Road crews are altering or repairing paths and roads daily.
But through it all, as Huntsville has grown into the state’s largest city and is growing daily as one of the hottest destinations for businesses and people looking for jobs or just a new start pouring into the Madison County limits, one constant has remained for over four decades.
Panoply celebrating Arts+Music+More will take its place in what has become a rite of spring in the Rocket City at downtown’s Big Spring Park.
“Each day Huntsville is growing and changing,” said Allison Dillon-Jauken, executive director of Arts Huntsville. “You can see it if you just drive around downtown, there’s something new on every corner it feels like. But since 1982 there has been one constant in our community, one thing that people keep coming back to year after year and that is the Panoply Arts Festival.”
Creativity comes together to celebrate a full weekend of art music and more.
Panoply announced its 2024 lineup for the 42nd annual events Thursday at the newly renovated Huntsville-Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). Joining Dillon-Jauken during the announcement were Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, CVB President and CEO Jennifer Moore, Jessica Luther of Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, Arts Huntsville Board Chair David Chan and local artist Jessica Ann Nuno.
Panoply, presented by MTM for the third year, is scheduled for April 26-28. A day pass is $15, weekend pass is $20 and there’s free admission for kids 12 and under. For information, visit www.artshuntsville.com.
“This is the time that we show off our city and we show it off with the arts, said Battle, who is in his 16th year as mayor. “We do the visual art, we do the beautiful art, we do everything that we can to make our people enjoy our city and our part in our city. This is a special time for us. Gosh, over the last 16 years, Panoply has visitors who walked away saying, ‘Wow, I had no idea.’ But it’s also given our community something to do, something to get out and some way to celebrate the arts.
“And it’s our local talent. That’s the most important thing.”
Battle highlighted the local bent of Panoply – young and older artists in various genres provide the visual and audio entertainment.
“This gives people a reason to pull that community together,” he said.
Panoply offerings include:
- Art Marketplace featuring over 100 visual local and national artists
- Hands on art and steam activities
- Festival seating
- Craft beer and wine
- More than 40 musical acts with a heavy local presence featuring The Dawn Osborne Band, Quantaphonics and Jazz McKenzie
- Food trucks
Nuno provided artwork for the event poster, and also created what Dillon-Jauken called a “whimsical, captivating” piece that will be turned into a wrap that will adorn a Huntsville-made Mazda CX 50 at Panoply.
Nunno will sell her original paintings at Panoply, and festivalgoers can purchase merchandise featuring her artwork at the Panoply Store, presented by Georgia Pacific. Arts Huntsville will also offer a limited number of signed posters for the public to purchase.
For more information, volunteer sign-up, and to purchase tickets, visit www.artshuntsville.org/panoply-arts-festival/. Follow @ArtsHuntsville on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter) for the latest updates.
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