The first Chamblee Rail Trail Makers Festival is slated for Saturday, April 22 11-6 and Sunday, April 23 12-5, 2017, at the intersection of Keswick Park and the Rail Trail at Peachtree Blvd. The festival site is a short walk from the south exit of the Chamblee MARTA station. Guest parking will be at 4611 Chamblee-Tucker Rd, across the street from the trail entrance. The goal of the festival is to
bring together, through the connectivity of the Chamblee Rail Trail, local residential communities with the downtown in a free, fun, family-oriented event. A ‘Makers’ festival celebrates arts, crafts, engineering, science projects and the Do-It-Yourself mindset. The Chamblee Rail Trail Makers Festival will highlight makers and artisans who use old and new technologies to craft useful creations. Planned activities include community art projects for all ages, such as chalk art and mural painting, plus a line up of musical and theatrical performances. An “arts alley” of booths representing works by many local artists will line the trail on both sides of the underpass. Drone racing is being considered for the Keswick Park softball fields. Food trucks and craft beers from Hopstix and Reformation round out the festivities. Proceeds from the festival will help fund the creation of a new city mural in the Peachtree Boulevard underpass. The festival is being organized by Brian Crowe, IDEAChamblee and the IDEA Gallery, and The City of Chamblee Parks and Recreation Department. IDEAChamblee is a 501c3 non-profit organization working to ensure that Chamblee has a vibrant, vital arts environment. There are many people in Chamblee that do not know that a section of the Rail Trail has already been built and that there is a safe way to easily cross Peachtree Blvd. The planned Rail Trail extension uses former industrial rail spurs and city easements to connect neighborhoods with a walking path throughout the downtown area.
