By Andi Bedsworth

The 7th Annual Oxford Fiber Arts Festival begins today at 3 p.m. With the last several columns, I have covered lectures, partnerships and more. This week, I will give you the details on admission, things not to miss and of course, the family day happening during the festival on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

In year’s past, families have enjoyed coming on Saturday to see live animals, demonstrations and to participate in arts activities. This year will not disappoint as there will be three children’s crafts being held in the heated tent outside in front of the Powerhouse.

Three local organizations have taken on the task of leading the crafts, and each group will take a two-hour shift during the fest so there will be a variety of activities offered.

To start it off, Woodson Ridge Homemaker’s Club will be leading children aged 8-13 years in a mug rug making craft from 10 a.m. to 12 noon for $1 each. The University of Mississippi Museum will offer a free Turtle Weaving activity for children of all ages from 12:30-2:30, and from 3-5 p.m., Stacey Sanford and Oxford Birth Services will show youngsters how to make their own pompom necklaces for $1 each. Proceeds from the necklace activity will go towards sponsoring a Feeding and Diapering Station at the Double Decker Festival.

All children under age 18 are admitted free to the market and petting zoo.

First Pentecostal Church in Oxford will return to the festival in a new role this year. Normally providing meals to vendors and visitors, they will instead sell concessions outside in the children’s area this year.

Patricia Holmberg of Little Bit Acres Farm will bring her bunnies and sheep, and Sandy and Nathan Shaddinger with Magnolia Knoll Llamas will bring their Llamas for the children to visit with during the day.

For the adults in the family, there will be plenty to do. Class registration will still be open if there is class availability at the door, demos will be occurring throughout the day, and the market will be open until 6 p.m. with vendors selling everything from hand dyed yarn, threads, wool, hand-woven towels, knitted and crocheted goods, patterns, kits, tools for fiber artists, fabric and everything a fiber artist could want.

Admission to the event is $2 per day or $5 for a weekend pass for adults making this an affordable day out for the family.

If you happen to have some time on Friday, come for the lecture, “A Historic Journey of African American Quilters” by Diane Williams at 9 a.m., stay for shopping at 10 a.m. and stop by for the Yarn/Fabric Swap booth from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Your $2 admission gets you into the entire market and includes the swap where you can bring yarn, fabric yardage and scraps to trade with others who have brought the same.

With all the festival is offering, there should be no reason not to visit the Powerhouse this weekend.

For more information including event schedule, class registration and more go to http://www.oxfordarts.com/events/fiberfest.

Andi Bedsworth is owner of Art To Go, which brings free art opportunities to children in the community.