Francis Marion to host Arts International festival April 13

Francis Marion University will host Arts International, a celebration of arts and culture, on Saturday, April 13. The festival will take place in downtown Florence on the grounds of the FMU Performing Arts Center from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 

Admission to Arts International is free and open to the public, along with all the festival’s entertainment. Food trucks selling refreshments will be available for purchase, along with craft items from local artisans.

The festival will feature musicians and other performers on three stages throughout the day as well as a number of roaming artists. This year’s lineup of performers includes:

• Analog Saints, a Hartsville-based cover band, which will take listeners on a musical journey through the 70s, 80s and 90s. The rock trio put its own spin on some of the greatest hits from each musical era.
• Aroha Afro Latin Dance, a local dance studio, will perform culturally rich styles of dance including the Salsa, Bachata and Kizomba. 
• Bagpipes by Ahren Self, featuring South Carolina native Ahren Self, will pay homage to traditional Scottish culture with his bagpipe performance.
• Guerreros Quetzalcoatl will honor the Mexican indigenous heritage with a traditional dance that originates from Aztec culture.
• Kempertown Musicians will perform German music.
• Lion Dance by Kaizen Way, performed by Kaizen Way Lion Dance & Martial Arts Theater, will showcase a magical Chinese tradition. 
• Orquesta 704 will treat festival goers to the vibrant rhythms of salsa music.
• Triangle Taiko, a traditional Japanese drumming group, will awe visitors with their beats. 

There will also be artisans displaying their crafts as well as selling items ranging from handmade pottery, custom artwork, and jewelry to sweetgrass baskets, hand-dyed yarn, and custom trucker hats. Artisans include:

• Bisque n’ Fire Pottery
• Cord and Quill Studio
• Dry Creek Woodworks
• Gifts and Talents
• Gullah Sweetgrass Baskets
• Glass Craft
• Junecat Crochet
• Lily & Poppy
• Night Owl
• Phillip Simmons Artist Blacksmith Guild
• SC Fantasy Fibers
• snellharwellart
• The Dizzy Weaver
• Vivid Knacks
• Wendy’s Trendies 

In addition to the performances and artisans, younger attendees will enjoy the Children’s Area, which will include a drum circle, a community mural, face painting, balloon animals, bubbles, and more.

The festival stage schedule is as follows:

International Stage 1

11am: Guerreros Quetzalcoatl

12pm: Triangle Taiko

1pm: Guerreros Quetzalcoatl

2pm: Triangle Taiko

3pm: Orquesta 704

International Stage 2

11am: Analog Saints

1pm: Bagpipes by Ahren Self

2pm: Analog Saints

International Stage 3 

11:30am: Kempertown Musicians

12:45pm: Aroha Afro Latin Dance

1:45pm: Kempertown Musicians

2:45pm: Aroha Afro Latin Dance

3:45pm: Bagpipes by Ahren Self

Roaming Artists

11am: Lion Dance by Kaizen Way

12:15pm: Lion Dance by Kaizen Way

1:15pm: Lion Dance by Kaizen Way

For more information on Arts International, check out the festival website at https://www.fmarion.edu/artsinternational/ or visit the Arts International Facebook event page, www.facebook.com/FMUAI.