FAIRHOPE, Alabama—The 61^st Annual Arts & Crafts Festival started today at 10 a.m. in downtown Fairhope with blue skies and a pleasant 61 degrees temperature, expected to reach 73 later in the day. The forecast looks the same for the next two days of the festival, which ends Sunday.

Chosen as one of the top 20 events in the Southeast by the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and the Southeast Tourism Society, the festival starts each day at 10 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m.

There is no admission charge.

More than 200 exhibitors from throughout the nation have work displayed in the downtown area. There will be live entertainment throughout the three-day event, with a variety of cuisine and beverages available.

The Baldwin County Area Transportation System offers a shuttle service from the Plantation Point Shopping Center, Eastern Shore Village and Ecor Rouge Place Center. All of the parking there is free, and the locations are less than a five-minute ride away. The shuttle ride coasts $2 one way.

WABF 1220 AM is broadcasting live from the front lawn of The Courier newspaper office at 325 Fairhope Ave., so feel free to stop by and say hi.

For more information, visit eschamber.com/artscrafts.