Hilltop Arts Festival, an event aimed at bringing an awareness of the arts to Elkmont, will kick off at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, in downtown Elkmont.

The festival is an offshoot of the Hilltop Arts Society, formed by Preston and Bridgette Pylant.

The third annual free event, sponsored by Electricfil, is a mixture of art, music and food with more than 40 local artists and crafters. All vendor items are handmade or repurposed.

Hilltop Arts Festival will feature a variety of food vendors including Earth and Stone woodfired pizza, which was recently ranked the nation’s best pizza food truck, and Cilantro, which has a vegetarian menu.

Follow Me Food Truck will also be on- site alongside the Elkmont Volunteer Fire Department and the Elkmont High marching band that will set up fundraising food booths.

KC Creations will offer chocolate-dipped treats while Southern Fried will cook up some deep-fried desserts.

The musical lineup includes Matt Morrow, Kristi Lena Coughlin, Random Sample, Alex Duggan, Lily Nelson and Sound Trust.

Festivities also include a Kids’ Zone, which is sponsored by the town of Elkmont and includes a variety of free crafts for children, as well as a bouncy house sponsored by Limestone County District Attorney Brian C.T. Jones.

LifeSouth Community Blood Centers will host a “Bleed for your Team” blood drive with Alabama and Auburn shirts available while they last.

Festivalgoers are also encouraged to visit Elkmont’s downtown locations. New downtown stores include Hinge, Artisan South and the U.G. White’s Elkmont Outpost. Other downtown shops include Kindred Spirits, Papertrail Antiques and Aardvark Screenprinting. The Belle Chevre tasting room and creamery will be open. Tours are available with the charge of admission.

Pinkerton Award Arts Scholarship

Hilltop Arts Festival booth proceeds and donations will further the arts in Elkmont. Preston Pylant said the main effort is to help students interested in the arts through the Pinkerton Award Arts Scholarship. The Pinkerton Award takes its name from Elkmont graduate Neil Pinkerton, a musician and actor who died in a car accident shortly after graduating high school. “Neil never had the chance to achieve his full potential, so to honor what might have been the Pinkerton Award was established to help deserving Elkmont seniors with an interest in the arts to achieve their potential,” Pylant said.

Elkmont students interested in the scholarship should submit a sample of their work, a recommendation letter and a 500-word essay detailing their desire to pursue an arts career.

The first Pinkerton Award was given to Brianne Hargrove, who is currently a freshman at the University of North Alabama.

To find out more about the Hilltop Arts Festival, visit www.hilltopartsfest.com

To go to the festival, take Interstate 65 North to Exit 361. Travel west until the dead end in downtown Elkmont.