Stroll through a pop-up art experience when Create Columbia hosts Art in the Park. The event will be held in Locust Street Park, 550 Locust St., Columbia, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27.

Local and regional artists will showcase their work for sale in a variety of styles.

"We currently have scheduled 15 to 20 artists of all different mediums," shared Kim Morrow, secretary of Create Columbia. "A few unusual examples of note are The Lloyd Mifflin Society photographic prints. These are large-format images created from the original glass negatives of this significant artist and poet of Columbia."

Those pieces by Garth Art will join works from additional artists.

"One of the exciting draws is George Mummert, a sculptor who has recently moved his foundry studio from Lancaster to Columbia," Morrow said. "He will install some significantly large pieces in the park for view and purchase the day of the show."

Additional participating artists will include Susan Darling, Elaine Swartz, Eric Tonzola, Sara Barnes and Janette Toth-Musser, among others.

Create Columbia will host a Bird House Bazaar as part of the show and has invited local artists to create art using bird houses as their canvas, Morrow noted.

"Bird houses are often decorated for indoor use, and many have an unusual take on this humble dwelling," she explained. "Bird houses are for sale, and proceeds are used to help grow our arts scholarship."

A public art station will also be set up for artists of all ages to create with watercolor paper and watercolors, and food will be for sale from St. Paul Episcopal Church and the Columbia High School drama boosters. Items will include chicken salad croissant sandwiches, chips and water, along with a la carte items and baked goods.

Create Columbia's history dates to 2002, when the Columbia Downtown Development Corporation formed as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. In 2015, the organization began working under the new name, Create Columbia.

The organization's mission is to help create an urban environment that attracts people, investment and commerce through the promotion of existing community resources, the development of new resources and the preservation and celebration of local architectural and cultural heritage.

One of Create Columbia's main initiatives is a scholarship program, which was established to support individual education in the arts.

The Art in the Park event is a natural fit for Create Columbia, Morrow said.

"Years ago, we had an event in June called the Antique and Craft Show that was held the last Saturday and ran from Second Street to Sixth Street and encompassed the park," she recalled. "Later as interests changed, the event became an art show that was focused in the park. Create Columbia was interested in drawing interest to the visual arts and wanted to showcase local talent. This is the first year of what we are hoping will become a local event."

Art will be for sale, with prices and specific items available determined by each individual artist. Cash, check or electronic payment such as Venmo will be available depending on the specific artist.

Art in the Park offers an opportunity for people to find something that speaks to them.

"There will be emerging artists and old favorites, but the art is sure to delight viewers," Morrow said. "This is not a craft show, but people will find a variety of realism as well as abstract, photography, wet medium, digital art and fabric creations. ... Come for the art, stay to explore the shops, eats and charm of Columbia."

The event will be held rain or shine. There is no admission charge. For more information on Create Columbia, visit http://www.createcolumbia.org.