The 35th annual Bloomin’ Festival Arts & Crafts Fair is arriving a little early this year, but with plenty of new and familiar artists, demonstrations and food.

This year’s date for the regionally popular event is April 6-7, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days on the scenic grounds of St. Bernard Abbey and Preparatory School. The Ave Maria Grotto is will also be open with special prices for tours.

Recognized by the Southeast Tourism Society as a Top 20 event, the Bloomin’ Festival will feature about 250 vendors, selling everything from fine art to ornate ironworks. And there will also be plenty of that special bread, St. Bernard Best Bread, made by the monks at the abbey.

“It’s shaping up to be a good year,” said Bloomin’ Festival Director Joyce Nix. “We have some new artists who have not displayed in the area before. We’ll also have a variety of food, including a toffee maker.”

St. Bernard students — the Saints band — will provide some of the entertainment beginning Saturday morning in front of the dining hall. Incognito Cartel, a popular American jangle pop band from Nashville, will also perform on the opening day at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.

“There’s something pretty much for everyone, no matter your age,” Nix said. “With archery being so popular here, we also have someone who makes bows. You can also watch demonstrations by an iron smith and a broom maker.”

Festival patrons will have the opportunity to shop for items such as jewelry, pottery, furniture, plants, leather goods, driftwood art, paintings, and a variety of glass art just to name a few.

Ave Maria Grotto will be open the entire weekend for a reduced admission of $3.

Food selections will be found under the big tent in front of the school library, which will consist of smoked chicken, hamburgers, hotdogs, polish sausage, and Pepsi products. Other specialty items around campus will include: Nanny’s old-fashioned lemonade, cinnamon roasted nuts, fudge, cheese straws, Belgian waffles, caramel apple chips, and spiral potatoes.

T-shirts are available commemorating the 35th year event. Designed by Creative Design’s Jesse Erwin and Lexi Clemmons, the school selected two shirts available for $20 each, and come in a variety of colors.

At the conclusion of the event, five people will be awarded one of the following prizes: a 2019 Jeep Renegade 4×4 sport utility vehicle; a four-night vacation to Orange Beach, compliments of D&J Retreat Rentals; an Apple Watch Series 3 GPS; a set of Apple AirPods, and a weather radio from Cullman Electric Cooperative.

A donation of $5 is requested for entrance to the festival, and separate from the Grotto admission. Children under 5 get in free. Parking is free and handicap parking is available.

For more information about the Bloomin’ Festival, including a list of this year’s exhibitors, or to become a sponsor, visit bloominfestival.com. Information is also on the festival’s Facebook page. St. Bernard is located at 1600 St. Bernard Drive SE in Cullman.

Shirley A. Aaron (Lanett, AL) – Author

Sandra Abbott (Cullman, AL) – Pottery

Heather Adams (Decatur, AL) – Polymer clay jewelry

Jessica Allen (Kimberly, AL) – Pallet picture frames

Alejandro Amezcua (Nashville, TN) – Jewelry

David and Jan Anders (Cottondale, AL) – Handpainted Ceramic Pottery

Deborah Ashcraft (Bessemer, AL) – Hand lettering

Debra Ashworth (Gardendale, AL) – Children’s Clothing

Rami Awwad (Tuscumbia, AL) – Hand carved olivewood nativity sets, ornaments

Robert and Jimmye Bain (Rainbow City, AL) – Children’s art boxes and small fabric items

Chris Barentz (Leeds, AL) – Handpainted art on canvas, wood and various textiles

Matt and Linda Barry (Sewanee, TN) – Plants

Sally Batson (Murfreesboro, TN) – Floral and painted items

Stacey Beasley (Monroe, GA) – Handcrafted Scented Soy Candles

Jimmy Bendall (Northport, AL) – Silver Spoon Jewelry

Sarah Benefield (Cullman, AL) – Canvas paintings

Terry Benefield (Heflin, AL) – Wrought iron and birdhouses

Sandi Billings (Huntsville, AL) – Herbal soap, tea, salves, plants, deodorants

Tammy Blackburn (Skipperville, AL) – Artwork

Cary Bone (New Market, AL) – Handcrafted pens, seam rippers, etc.

Christina Bowles (Gulf Breeze, FL) – Customized yard signs

Sandy Brady (Steele, AL) – Wood, soft sculpture, sewing

Joyce Branch (Hanceville, AL) – Hand Painted Signs

Jim Braun (Decatur, AL) – Papercrete,cement, glass, jewelry

Brenda Bridges (Hueytown, AL) – Children’s applique shirts and clothing

Dylan Britt (Higdon, AL) – Leather

Ann Brown (Vinemont, AL) – Knit, crochet, sewing

Tracie Bryant (Athens, AL) – Ragdolls, pillows

Randy and Bev Bullard (Smyrna, TN) – Handpainted gourd birdhouses

Emily Busby (Guntersville, AL) – Pottery

Chris Bussler (Fayetteville, TN) – Fine Art

Talmadge Butler (Vinemont, AL) – Wood furniture

Cheri Button and Carol Greenhille (Hartselle, AL) – Button magnets; jewelry artwork

Mechele and Steve Carter (Haleyville, AL) – Driftwood Art

Larry Childers (Toney, AL) – Woodwork

Mary Childers (Toney, AL) – Sewing, crochet, and plastic weave

Kay Cornelius (Killen, AL) – Hats

Larry Couch (Cullman, AL) – Woodworking

Janette Cramer (Danville, AL) – Ceramics

Norris Crawford (Greensboro, AL) – Leather

Cullman County Master Gardeners (Cullman, AL) – Plants

Dan Davenport (Millington, MI) – Hand hammered aluminum giftware

Mike Davis (Brantley, AL) – Pottery

Donna DiGiorgio (Hoover, AL) – Bottle cap art

Stephanie Dingler (Mobile, AL) – woodwork

Emma Duncan (Birmingham, AL) – Handmade Pet items

Ray Dutton (Moulton, AL) – Birdhouses and feeders

Deborah Elliott (Birmingham, AL) – Art

Ruby Ellison (Memphis, TN) – Doll clothes and accessories

Laura and Lorenzo Estrada (Temple, GA) – Concrete statuary

Debra and Bobby Farley (Pelham, AL) – Jewelry

Steven Febres-Cordero (Centerpoint, AL) – Woodcarvings

Bill Finklea (Columbiana, AL) – Kettle Korn

Wade Fleshman (Miramar Beach, FL) – Fused glass

Deborah Foster (Prattville, AL) – Glass

Dave Geyer (Columbia, TN) – Ladies Clothing

Glenda Giles (Chattanooga, TN) – Fiber Art

Paul Glenn (Birmingham, AL) – Woodwork

Mike and Sara Goodson (Leeds, AL) – Wood hanger and yard signs

Lance Gracy (Fayetteville, TN) – Honey

Brian Greer (Falkville, AL) – Jewelry

Mike and Molly Gregory (Ozark, AL) – Corian trivets and cutting boards

Beth Harrison (Elkmont, AL) – Handmade soaps, bath and body

Anna Belle Hazard and Joyce Nix (Cullman, AL) – Wood signs/bowls/shelves, quilts, bowl cozies, and dog bandanas

Edward and Patricia Heerten (McCalla, AL) – Wood

Theresa Heffner (Hayden, AL) – Stained glass

Heaven Hight (Piedmont, AL) – Handmade bags

Marcus Hilden (New Market, AL) – Forged iron and copper

Tammy Hill (Cullman, AL) – Handmade furniture and accessories

Mechelle Hodgens (Arley, AL) – Artist

Billy and Tammy Howell (Gardendale, AL) – Metal Art

Georgia Hulbert (Gurley, AL) – Wood, pillows, planters

Connie Hulsey (Decatur, AL) – Recycled Art

Amanda Hunter (Huntsville, AL) – Unique succulent arrangements

Carol Hyde (Swansea, IL) – Whimsical succulent gardens in glass globes

Liping Jackson (Clanton, MS) – Clay art and jewelry

Lucy Jones (Navarre, FL) – marbeling silk scarves

Lucy Jones (Navarre, FL) – pottery

Bryan and Laura Jordan (Hoover, AL) – Pottery

Julie Kelley (Jasper, AL) – Candles, wax melts

Regina and Kim Kimbrough (Killen, AL) – Handpainted wooden door hangers

Marypat Klee (Huntsville, AL) – Wreaths

Kim LaRock (Huntsville, AL) – Pottery

Jerry and Jane Lashley (Lithia Springs, GA) – Cypress Outdoor Furniture

Kerry Leasure (Hoover, AL) – Jewelry

Joy LeDvina (Vestavia Hills, AL) – Hand dyed and sewn clothing

Huiying Lee (Conley, GA) – Bonsai – miniature trees

Johanna Littleton (Decatur, AL) – Paintings

Paulette Lucas (Bessemer, AL) – Handmade wooden music boxes

June Lusty (Franklin, TN) – Leather

Lynn Lusty (Old Hickory, TN) – Pottery

Jack Marshall (Metaire, LA) – Cinnamon roasted nuts

Robert Martindale (Russellville, AL) – Pottery

Francis Martin (Cantonment, FL) – wooden toys

Marty Maughn (Orange Beach, AL) – Fan-cy Ceiling Fan Pulls

Leldon Maxcy (Cullman, AL) – Woodwork

Jeff and Maggie Mayfield (Pulaski, TN) – Pottery

Jeanne McCostlin (Athens, AL) – Driftwood art, handbags, turned bowls, jewelry

Heather McDurmon (Rome, GA) – Hand dyed clothing

Roger McGuire (Falkville, AL) – Wood craft

Jackie Miller (Huntsville, AL) – Quilted items, art

Brenda Mitchell and Susan Coulter (Huntsville, AL) -Handmade bags, bows, doll clothes

Tracy Moore and Deborah Goodwin (Springville, AL) – inspirational clothing, paintings

Anthony and Tracy Murcks (Decatur, AL) – Chair Caining

Chad Nelson (Cullman, AL) – Pottery

Brandy Nevins (Hamilton, MS) – Yard Art, Decorative home accessories

Adam Nicholson (Murphy, NC) – Traditional longbows

Roni and Delores Norbut (Arab, AL) – Burlap door hangers, hairbows, bags, crochet items

Melanie Poole and Denise Poole-Cabela (Montevallo, AL) – Hats and Jewelry

Mary Prim (Graceville, FL) – Pottery

Cathy Probst-Walker (Crossville, TN) – Gourd art

Gary Reid (Cullman, AL) – Leather items made from boots

Tim Reid (Chattanooga, TN) – Wood turner

Janet Ravenna (Elmhurst, IL) – Mixed Media

Lori Rhodes (Pinson, AL) – Handmade Jewelry

Pat Rike (Bristol, VA) – Window Clings

Kelly Roberts (Hartselle, AL) – Painted ceramics, clay

Ellen Rodgers (Gulf Shores, AL) – Jewelry

Mary and Linda Rogers (Union Grove, AL) – Jewelry and Pottery

Shirley Russell (Grand Blanc, MI) – Folk Art (Woodcarving) Primitive style

Jimmy Rutherford (Shannon, MS) – Metal Art

Sara Rutherford (Shannon, MS) -Jewelry

Phyllis Sauls (Gadsden, AL) – Ladies Clothing, spoon jewelry

Darlene Seals (Holly Springs, MS) – Hair Bows

James Sebastian (Huntsville, AL) – Woodcarving and Chainsaw Art

Tim Sebastian (Huntsville, AL) – Sculptures and casting

Charles Schodorf (Elmore, AL) – Wood work

Thomas Simmons (Remlap, AL) – Belts, gunslings, and bullwhips

Dan Skinner (Nashville, TN) – Herbal wraps

Liz Smith (Joppa, AL) – Photography

Jarrod Smitherman (Cullman, AL) – Woodworking

Dawn Sparks (Arab, AL) – Whimsical art

John Sperry (Maysville, GA) – Folk art paintings

Beverly Stephens (Falkville, AL) – Childrens clothes and toys

Lenora Thomas (Magnolia, AR) – Vintage linen clothing

Cheryl Thompson (Hanceville, AL) – Bath and body products

Tony Thornock (Athens, AL) – Western Author

Thomas Troup (Guntersville, AL) – Windchimes

Marvin and Maureen Wallace (Decatur, AL) – Monogrammed items and wood plaques

Dee Washburn (Cullman, AL) – Artist/Musician

Bruce Washington (Anderson, SC) – Skin Care/soaps

Anita Watson (Columbia, TN) – Fudge

Pam Weaver (Vestavia, AL) – Buttnaked candles

Leonda Whetstone (Huntsville, AL) – Handwoven baskets

Annette White (Butler, AL) – Handpainted slates

Dennis Williams – Wooden toys

Susan Williams (Abbeville, MS) – Ceramic, wood and goat milk soap

Paul and Carol Woodham (Ozark, AL) – Welded and recycled metal crafts