What better way to celebrate the arrival of fall — and its glorious weather — than by spending a weekend ambling through Cottonwood Park, enjoying delicious food, a tasty beverage, and works from more than 200 artists?

The award-winning Cottonwood Art Festival returns October 5 and 6, and you'll want to be there.

Cottonwood is a juried art show, meaning that hundreds of submissions were whittled down to this exclusive lineup. The artists compete in 14 categories — everything from ceramics and glass to painting, pastels, photography, and sculpture. There are even categories for such specialized skills as jewelry, leather, metalwork, fiber, and wood. Digital art and 2-D and 3-D mixed media get nods too.

In addition to all the art, there are two stages for live music, an ArtStop children's area with lots of interactive activities, and an abundance of food and drink options.

Live music means there's always time for a dance break.Photo courtesy of Cottonwood Art Festival

Raise a glass to an epic lineup of wine from Imagery Wine Collection and craft beer from local breweries, along with margaritas, prosecco, coffee, and handcrafted sodas. Satisfy your hunger with everything from burgers and corn dogs to shaved ice, caramel apples, and ice cream.

Also be sure to check out this fall's featured artist, the Houston-born and Austin-raised Jay Long.

Long begins the artistic process for his mixed-media paintings with an inspirational idea, often from music, literature, or theater. The sketch of the idea is his way of personally interpreting historic or contemporary culture. Drawings are transferred to a wood panel and then cut to a shape. Oil paint is applied over collaged text from found books. The paintings are installed in artist-made box mounts and linen frames.

Official merchandise with Long’s featured artwork will be available to purchase at the festival or online, and includes a poster, T-shirts, stickers, and other souvenirs.

Encourage the next generation of artists in the ArtStop area, and through the two community outreach programs.Photo courtesy of Cottonwood Art Festival

The Cottonwood Art Festival also provides opportunities for students in the community to learn about the importance of art and foster their own blossoming creativity through two community outreach programs.

The Emerging Artist Program recognizes senior high-school art students by selling their work alongside Cottonwood’s attending professional artists and displaying selected pieces at the Eisemann Center.

The Visiting Artist Program increases participation in visual arts in Richardson ISD classrooms, with Cottonwood artists providing hands-on art activities and sharing their experiences with students.

Cottonwood Art Festival is October 5-6 at Cottonwood Park, located at 1321 W. Belt Line Rd. in Richardson. Admission is free and the festival is open Saturday from 10 am-7 pm and Sunday from 10 am-5 pm.