Unveiling of new monument to kick off Ashley for the Arts
Work continued last week on the On Angel’s Wings monument, the latest addition to Soldiers Walk in Arcadia’s Memorial Park. The monument will be unveiled Thursday as the annual Ashley for the Arts festival begins. (Times photograph by Andrew Dannehy)
For the third straight year, Ashley for the Arts will begin with something new on Soldiers Walk in Arcadia’s Memorial Park.
The unveiling of the new monument will take place at 5 p.m. on Thursday, but that is just one part of a weekend packed with entertainment, including performances by Jon Pardi, Keith Urban, Gene Simmons Band, ERNEST, Corey Kent, Boys Like Girls, Lanie Gardner and Foghat.
A monument titled “On Angel’s Wings” will be officially unveiled along Soldiers Walk at 5 p.m. on Thursday. The monument, which is a tribute to men and women actively serving our nation, has been placed just beyond the Arcadia Lions Pavilion. This is the third straight year a new monument has been placed in the park. A memorial to war dogs was unveiled in 2024, and last year a bronze statue of nurse Ruby Bradley was placed.
Thursday also features the Pursuit of a Cure cancer fundraiser. That includes a basket raffle, luminaria sales, glow run and glow foam party. The inflatable air park opens at 4 p.m., which is also when entertainment begins.
The Mondays will play at 4 p.m. at the Pavilion Stage before Bryce Hedtke takes the stage. The Dweebs will play on the Soldiers Walk Stage at 5:30 p.m., then Love and Theft closes out the entertainment beginning at 8 p.m.
That is just the beginning of a weekend packed with entertainment.
There will be more music on Friday as Lanie Gardner hits the main stage at 3 p.m., followed by Corey Kent at 5 p.m., Gene Simmons Band at 7 p.m. and Jon Pardi at 9 p.m.
Various high school musical acts will perform on the Amphitheater Stage from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday. There will also be acts on the Pavilion and Soldiers Walk stages.
In addition to music, artwork and photographs will be displayed throughout the park. A petting zoo will run throughout the weekend, grilling demonstrations by McLemore Boys will be held at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., and a lumberjack show will take place at 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. on both days.
Foghat will open the Main Stage at 3 p.m. on Saturday, followed by Boys Like Girls, ERNEST, and Keith Urban.
A hot air balloon launch will be held at 6:15 p.m. on Saturday, followed by a drone show at 8:40 p.m.
