Columbia Heritage Festival and Craft Show in full swing

Columbia Parks and Recreation is hosting the Heritage Festival and Craft Show September 20-21.

The event is free at Nifong Park with more than 100 different booths and vendors.

This is the 37th year of the festival. Parks and Rec said there was a huge turnout Saturday, even with the home football game.

The festival has live entertainment all weekend. It also has several re-enactors, artisans and tradesmen dressed in 19th century costumes. And there are plenty of activities for kids including hayrides, panning for gold and face painting.

Karen Chandler, the superintendent of Columbia Parks and Recreation, said the festival takes a long time to put together.

Karen Chandler, Columbia Parks and Recreation: “We work on these events about a year.We do lots of different events throughout the year, but this one and the Fourth of July are our big ones.”

The Boone County Historical Society is also welcoming visitors at the park in the historic Maplewood House from the late 1800s and Boone Junction. The Walters-Boone Museum is open for tours as well.

To see the full entertainment lineup, visit www.gocolumbiamo.com.