County sits Rose Lawn, an historic home that over the years has become a source of pride for the community.

Each year, the home, located on Cherokee Street in Cartersville, opens its grounds to the annual Arts Festival at Rose Lawn and crowds converge on the area to take in the art, the food and the entertainment.

“It’s just a really special event,” said Jane Drew, director of Rose Lawn Museum. “It kind of kicks off the fall in Cartersville.”

This year marks the 37th annual festival and Drew said each year brings about something new and unique to enjoy.

“It gets bigger and bigger every year,” Drew said.

The Art Festival at Rose Lawn will be held Sept. 15 and 16 and will feature about 130 vendors plying items such as fine paintings and jewelry to basketry, quilting, weaving, pottery, glass and photography.

There also will be free face painting for children.

Saturday hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday hours are noon to 5 p.m.

Admission to the festival is free and Jennifer Wiggins Matthews, who is on the museum’s board and also is a corporate sponsor, said the event continues to be a draw because of the wide range of vendors who include local artists and others from other states such as North Carolina and Florida.

“We continue to add diverse vendors,” Wiggins Matthews said. “As we continue to add more vendors it increases the number of people who come here to shop.”

For the vendors who showcase their work there also is a chance to earn cash awards.

Museum tours also will be available for those who want to explore the grandeur of the home formerly owned by Cartersville great Sam Jones. Admission for tours is $5 for adults and $2 for children.

A tradition of sorts within the tradition of the Art Festival at Rose Lawn is the annual American Association of University Women book sale. Proceeds from the book sale fund scholarships to local students through the organization.

“We try to have things for all ages,” Wiggins Matthews said.

Information: (770) 387-5162.