Creativity, community and outdoor fun will combine in Columbia for an event where visitors can browse, shop and connect with local makers.

Organized by Create Columbia, Art in the Park will be held on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Locust Street Park, 550 Locust St.

"This year we will have mostly returning artists and a few new faces displaying their work for sale," said Janette Toth-Musser, a member of Create Columbia and the Art in the Park committee, adding that art will range from all styles of painting to photography. "Art in the Park is an event where anyone can find a little treasure or that perfect unique gift, or try your hand at our art station and have a conversation with an artist in an outdoor, comfortable setting."

Columbia High School drama boosters and students from York Academy Arts will participate in the event, joining local nonprofit groups, and St. Paul's Church will have food for sale.

Participants in Art in the Park will also include Victoriann Artworks and Artprints, Teddy Who Rocks, Tom Johnson-Medland and John Reitzel, among others.

"We will also have a Public Art Station set up so artists of all ages can make a small artwork and hang it on the station or take it with them," Toth-Musser shared.

Create Columbia will have a space in the show and will display an international postcard exhibit.

"Postcard art can be bid upon by way of a silent auction," Toth-Musser said. "The silent auction will end at the conclusion of our event at 3 p.m. We will notify the highest bidders shortly after our event. Art lovers can view the postcards and bid on them from now until Friday, Sept. 25, at 3 p.m. The exhibit is currently hanging at Kindred Collections, 452 Locust St., Columbia, and will be relocated to the park Saturday morning for more enjoyment."

Although this is only the second year for the renewed Art in the Park, the event has a long history in Columbia.

"Art in the Park began in the late 1980s or early 1990s and was a community event organized by the Columbia Hospital Ladies Auxiliary," Toth-Musser explained. "In addition to giving the artists an opportunity to showcase their work, the Ladies Auxiliary sold gourmet chicken salad sandwiches and ice cream. We are hoping to grow this event every year in the spirit of its inception, to promote artists and community fellowship."

She noted that Art in the Park is one of three events happening on Sept. 26 in downtown Columbia.

Fall Crawl, sponsored by The Merchants Association of Columbia, will offer drink specials and samples at local watering holes from 2 to 5 p.m. Stops on the crawl will include Union Station Grill, Lancaster Distilleries, Mark & Val Wines and Starview Brews.

The Columbia Albatwitch Harvest Festival, sponsored by Columbia Borough Parks and Recreation, will be held at Columbia Crossing from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

"We are also thrilled that we will have the Rivertowne Trolley to get folks to these special events," Toth-Musser said. The trolley route will include stops on Locust Street, Chestnut Street and Bridge Street. At 3 p.m., the trolley will cease one stop and will add Union Station Grill as a stop for the Fall Crawl, she said.

Art in the Park is organized by Create Columbia, a nonprofit organization formed to promote Columbia as a creative and vital community.

"This is a growing event for Create Columbia," Toth-Musser said. "We have spaces available for artists that would like to join us at the last minute. Message us on Facebook or chair@createcolumbia.org."

There is no admission charge for Art in the Park. For more information, visit  www.createcolumbia.org or search for "Create Columbia" on Facebook.