It's a doubleheader on the grounds of Museum of the Albemarle this weekend as Arts of the Albemarle once again mixes fine arts, artisans and epicurean delights.

Arts of the Albemarle, who recently changed its name from Pasquotank Arts Council, is hosting another Harbor Arts Festival and has changed the scope of its culinary event. What was once known as Taste of Elizabeth City is now Taste of the Albemarle, says Arts of the Albemarle gallery director and event coordinator Mary Temple.

File photo (ENLARGE)

Local chef Andy Montero prepares a dish on Main Street during last year's Taste of Elizabeth City.

"We branched out a little more," says Temple.

This is the third Taste event, but the first to include restaurants outside of Elizabeth City. Twenty restaurants in all will be joining the fun; with a couple of Currituck eateries joining in and several first-timers like the Chocolate House and Famous Franks Albemarle eating will be well represented.

Taste of the Albemarle is a fundraising event for Arts of the Albemarle. Each year the event includes samplings from area restaurants and a street dance. This year The Rhondels, a popular beach music band will perform.

Last year the event was held right on Main Street near the waterfront. Rain tried to fend of partygoers but Temple says people still managed to have a great time.

This year, however, there is insurance that rain won't send people running for cover. The event will be held beneath the cover of Museum of the Albemarle's vast porches.

Temple says the economy is tight this year so event organizers decided to lower the ticket price from $25 to $15 and $10 for active military members and $5 for kids 12 and under.

From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. people can rove from table to table enjoying the wide variety of foods. Starting at 8 p.m. and running until 11 p.m., shaggers can shuffle their feet to the sounds of The Rhondels.

During the day Saturday and Sunday, lovers of art can indulge themselves on the green at the museum. Temple says there will be about 40 booths set up with artwork and the artists from around the area, state and country.

"We have some of the same artists and we have some new artists this year," says Temple.

The artists are judged in order to participate in the event. Once they set up, Temple says there will also be three, $500 prizes awarded for best of show.

In addition to artists, there will be a number of craftsmen and artisans set up, demonstrating their work. Aside from stained-glass artists, basket making, furniture making, woodcarvng and gourd art, Temple says there will be two days of demonstrations from the Tidewater Blacksmith Guild.

"We'll also have a kids tent," she says. The children's activity tent is free and will offer kids the opportunity to make arts and crafts.

"Teaching the children is invaluable to inspire the next generation to be creative and appreciative of the arts," states Art of the Albemarle executive director Lisa Winslow in a press release. "There are types of handcrafts that have been lost as generations have not been taught how to make them and thus vanished into history."