(From Howard Finster’s Paradise Garden):
Howard Finster’s Paradise Garden will host its 2024 Outsider Art Trail Tour on Saturday, May 18th from 10 am until 8 pm. It is a driving tour highlighting outsider art around Northwest Georgia. Here are the details, courtesy of the Paradise Garden Foundation:
SUGGESTED TOUR ROUTE
#1 Art Environment & Art Reception
HOWARD FINSTER’S PARADISE GARDEN
10AM-5PM (Reception 12pm-2pm)
200 North Lewis St., Summerville, GA 30747
706-808-0800
#2 Giant Outdoor Flea Market
TRADE DAY7am-12pm weather permitting
12071 US Highway 27
Summerville, GA 30747
#3 Outsider Art Gallery
FOLK AMERICA GALLERY 10am-5pm
12135 US Hwy 27, Summerville, GA 30747
#4 Art & Antiques
YELLOW DOOR ANTIQUES & ART 11am-6pm
219 N 5th Avenue, Rome, GA 30165-2835
Located in the River Arts District
#5 Art Gallery & Art Reception 5pm-6pm
KINGFISHER ART CO.
219 N. Fifth Ave. S.W., Rome GA 30165-2835
Located inside Yellow Door Antiques
#6 Art Oddities & Antiques)
CECIL T’S MERCANTILE 11am-8pm
7 Broad Street, Rome, GA 30161
Located in the Cotton Block
TOUR ROUTE STOPS
• Head to Paradise Garden (#1) just north of Summerville and enjoy the rolling farm hills of Northwest Georgia. Paradise Garden (#1) opens at 10am, and you can pick-up your Outsider Art Trail Tour “Passport,” then tour Rev. Howard Finster’s home and 4-acre art environment. The Outsider Art Trail Tour is free. Admission to Paradise Garden Foundation is $15 adults/$10 seniors/children under 12 free.
OR
Head to Trade Day starting at 7am and double back to Paradise Garden for your passport.
• Enjoy the Paradise Garden Opening Art Reception, for the next art exhibit Magic and Miracles, the Art of Will Linn, 12pm-2pm.
• Travel just south on Highway 27 for Trade Day (#2)(early bird shopping starts at 7am) and Folk America Gallery (#3) open from 10am-5pm. #2 & #3 are located next to each other with abundant parking. Known by folk art collectors as “one of the best Southern folk art galleries in America.” Howard Finster, Michael Banks, Jimmy Lee Sudduth, Lonnie Holley, Mary T. Smith, and Purvis Young just to name a few artists in this gallery with a rich 30+ year history.
• Hungry? Rest your feet and relax in Summerville for lunch. Enjoy the all-American menu at Jefferson’s Restaurant (#B), or a refreshing smoothie at Dirt Pour (#A) on Main Street inside of Dirt Design and Decor. Enjoy the best in BBQ at Thatchers (#C) or great Mexican at Dos Maguey’s(#E). Excellent wood-fired pizza at Crushed Tomato(#D) or late lunch (after 3pm) at The Willow Tree Grill(#F), both restaurants just a two-minute drive from downtown. Tell your servers you are on the Outsider Art Tour!
• Head south on Highway 27 to the River Arts District in Rome, GA, to Yellow Door Antiques & Art (#4) for furniture, pottery, vintage clothes, decor and local art. 11am-6pm
• Celebrate the new location of the Kingfisher Art Co. (#5) at their Opening Art Reception for artist James Schroeder between 5pm-6pm. The art gallery is located inside Yellow Door Antiques.
• Complete the Tour by Cecil T’s Mercantile (#6) in the Cotton Block downtown Rome for art oddities, antiques, whimsical local arts and crafts, and tasty pies. 11am-8pm
GOOD EATS & DRINKS!
#A Dirt Pour (10am-8pm)
(Located inside Dirt Design & Decor)
9881 Commerce St., Summerville GA 30747
Coffee & Smoothie Bar
#B JEFFERSON’S RESTAURANT
10096 Commerce St., Summerville, GA 30747
Indoor Dining & Outdoor Patio
Burgers, Chicken Fingers and Salads
#C THATCHERS BBQ
10077 Commerce St., Summerville GA 30747
Outstanding Southern BBQ and fixin’s
#D CRUSHED TOMATO
205 Montgomery St., Summerville GA 30747
Killer Wood-Fired Pizza in a groovy building
#F THE WILLOW TREE GRILL (3pm-9pm only)
592 GA-48, Summerville GA 30747
Adorably cute atmosphere with great food
#E DOS MAGUEY’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT
10020 Commerce St., Summerville GA 30747
Great Mexican food with a vast menu
WWW.PARADISEGARDENFOUNDATION.ORG CLICK ON “Upcoming Events” OR CALL 706.808.0800
Drop your completed tour PASSPORT off at #5 Kingfisher Art Co. or Cecil T’s Mercantile for a chance to win an overnight stay at one of the Paradise Garden cottages!
Check for event updates on Facebook by searching for Outsider Art Trail Tour.
