Tony Walsh

Bert Royal

• 
• 

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Organizers are prepping for another year of the CalaVida Arts Festival, which runs Oct. 8-13

The festival is a series of one-off gatherings, concerts and shows Monday through Friday, followed by a full slate events at Spring Park from 10 a.m.-8:45 p.m., which will be capped by fireworks.

Since Jacksonville Southern rock legends Lynyrd Skynyrd bid audiences adieu this year, CalaVida’s Saturday bill is primarily country and Southern rock, and blues and jazz. Festival president Sandra Royal said CalaVida’s strength comes from its variety.

“We’ve continued to bring in quality entertainers and we try to expose the community to a wide range,” Sandra Royal said. “This year we’re leaning a little bit more toward country rock because we’re doing a tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd and they’re coming off their final tour this summer.”

Presiding over the festival since its inception, Royal mentions sculptor Augusta Savage and singer Patti Labelle when discussing Green Cove Springs’ heritage in the arts.

“It was a thought that these children need to be exposed to all kinds of these things. How do you inspire them? I have a real passion for it, I wanted to make sure it was something everybody could afford, it was convenient, and it was quality,” Sandra Royal said. “We’ve had such a myriad of things over the past four years. I was my dream that by year five it would be a big event.”

At First Presbyterian Church, renowned concert pianist Kevin Sharpe will play Tuesday at 7 p.m. and the Jacksonville Harmony Chorus performs at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church Wednesday at 7 p.m.

On Thursday at 7 p.m., audiences can see the musical “Esther, the Young Queen,” written by Donna Jones, at First Presbyterian Church. The musical is based on the Book of Esther.

Royal’s son, Bert Royal, whose screenwriting credits include 2010 high school comedy “Easy A,” starring Emma Stone and the Freeform cable network series “Recovery Road,” is on the festival board of directors. He will narrate “Esther, the Young Queen.”

“I’ve been invested in it since Day One. I’m really excited to go out there and be a part of it,” said Bert Royal, who lives in Los Angeles.

He said he was impressed by the way the festival filled a cultural gap in the community.

“There’s all this really great stuff and there’s so much to do and try, so we’re really hoping this year is going to be our biggest year,” Bert Royal said. “I think it could be, the level of talent goes up and up each year.”

Tony Walsh, the founding director of the Thrasher-Horne Center from 2004-2013, is also on the festival’s board. Walsh said he’s noticed the festival’s growth over the years with the number of musical acts, artists and authors in attendance.

“From year to year, we’re refining or changing it, but the staying power has been good for CalaVida. It's a wonderful opportunity,” Walsh said. “People get a chance to showcase their work, perform their work, exhibit their work, read their work. There’s a lot of interaction that takes place. I’m glad the citizens of Green Cove have embraced CalaVida.”

The first event is a wine and cheese pottery exhibit at Wild Ginger Pottery Studio 7 p.m. Monday. For the full schedule of events, visit calavida.com/2018-schedule.