In what is a celebration of art and a short life lived to the fullest, it’s that time again for the Ashley Garrett Memorial Free Children’s Art Festival.
From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. …
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![Last year's edition was a welcome return for the Free Children's Art Festival in Auxvasse.
[Submitted]](https://epsilon.creativecirclecdn.com/mexicoledger/original/20220909-002144-9-7%202021%20Ashley%20Garrett%20File.jpg)
In what is a celebration of art and a short life lived to the fullest, it’s that time again for the Ashley Garrett Memorial Free Children’s Art Festival.
From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Auxvasse’s Domann Park, 305 South Elm – near North Callaway Middle School – the Auxvasse Creative Arts Program will hold the 15th annual edition of the event.
Kids can enjoy free arts and crafts, lunch, live music, a free book and backsack (while supplies last) and more goodies upon their arrival.
Garrett’s sister, Jennifer O’Donley, helps with the organization of the festival.
Garrett died in 2005 at the age of 27 in a car accident in Kansas City, leaving behind a family, including two daughters who were five (Erica) and two (Hailey) at the time.
“We wanted a way to capture her spirit and what she loved – especially her love of kids and creating artwork,” O’Donley said. “She had a daycare in Fulton and had an art room and loved to give kids that space and creativity. She wanted to make sure that every kid that came into her life in the daycare, that they were loved.
“She didn’t take it for granted that some kids might go through the day and not hear that. We wanted to give back to the community and honor her spirit and love and generosity and create that positivity for kids in our community.”
The event allows for families to come together and explore their creative side.
Garrett did work at home finishing during her life and had an artsy side herself, so the poetic justice of the celebration is even more appropriate.
The last 14 years has seen plenty of positive feedback.
“It’s been phenomenal – we didn’t know what to expect the first year to be honest,” O’Donley said. “We typically have at least 100 kids and by the time you add family members, you have about 300 people that would typically attend.
“It’s been great because we have families that come back year-by-year. We are very glad that it has become a tradition.”
O’Donley best remembers Garrett as a person “with a lot of light and positivity and a smile that would light up anybody around her.”
O’Donley appreciates the continued support from a number of sponsors and supporters for the festival.
