WEST POINT – For the 46th year, downtown West Point is gearing up for the Prairie Arts Festival.

Lisa Klutts, director of community development for the West Point Clay County Community Growth Alliance, has been coordinating the festival since 2008. Every year, she said, the festival returns during Labor Day weekend, filling downtown with about 200 vendors, with artists, food trucks, music and more.

“Even though it’s been going on for 46 years and you know what to expect, there’s still some element that’s new every year,” Klutts said. “Whether it’s different vendors, different attractions, different musicians, or just something new to try to eat, there’s always a new element to the festival that keeps it fresh.”

The festival will take over downtown from Main Street to Westbrook Street from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 31. A 5K race, which happens before the festival each year, will start at 8 a.m.

Klutts said the festival will include a variety of jewelry, pottery, paintings, door hangers, yard art, and baked goods, along with the fine arts that the festival is known for. Newer additions include plushies, boutique clothes and 3D printed art.

This year, Klutts said, there are a few changes coming to the festival. The annual Juried Fine Arts and student art competitions will be moving inside the Louise Campbell Center for the Arts.

The juried fine arts awards will be presented at 11:30 a.m. and student art awards will be presented at 2 p.m.

The Bryan Public Library is also bringing back its book sale during the festival, Klutts said.

There will also be a rock climbing wall for all ages in the kids zone, Klutts said. The kids zone will also include swings, pony rides, a dunking booth, face painting, the festival train and more.

“Come and spend an hour or two, or come and stay all day,” Klutt said. “There is plenty to keep you entertained. Plenty to shop, eat, and come and stay as long as you want to.”

While Klutts said there is always something new at Prairie Arts, the festival is “truly part of the tradition of West Point,” as many former residents use the weekend as a chance to plan family and class reunions.

“There’s a class reunion that’s coming back and they registered to walk in the 5K race,” Klutts said. “I love how (citizens) create activities around the festival, to come back home.”

The Black Prairie Blues Museum is also planning to host “Two Mules at the Museum II” at its Commerce Street location coinciding with the festival, museum director Deborah Mansfield told The Dispatch Thursday.

From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., the museum will be open and displaying artwork by Church Goin Mule, a southern folk artist. Mansfield said the museum will also be serving cold drinks throughout the day and will start serving hot tamales at 10:30 a.m.

Then, from 6 p.m. to midnight, Mississippi bluesman Mark “Muleman” Massey will be performing at the museum. There is a $25 cover charge for the evening performance.

“Make sure that you stop in… at the Black Prairie Blues Museum and get a cold drink, have a seat, and learn about the blues museum,” Mansfield said. “You can look at some art and listen to some music.”