This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Spring Fling Festival in Dawsonville.

Over the past decade, artists and craftspeople from around the country have come together to sell their wares and demonstrate their skills for those who attend the event.

The free event, which is scheduled for May 1-2 in downtown Dawsonville, benefits the Dawson County Arts Council through the sale of items at the event.

Jeanne Tompkins, publicity chairperson with the arts council, said Spring Fling is “always teeming with activity.

“It’s a festival, so it has that festival atmosphere,” she added. “Food, children’s activities, things like that.”

Tompkins said Spring Fling is the arts council’s “major moneymaker ... it is by far our biggest fundraiser.”

Festivities run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 1-2. Other activities planned during the event include a Dawson Rotary bike race, Kiwanis 5K, 10K and fun run and a car show outside the Dawsonville Municipal Complex.

In a news release, Marcia Chelf, arts council executive director, said Spring Fling is “one of the best places to get your spring gardening supplies — from flowers and vegetables to tools and products — to make sure your garden is a showpiece.”

For more information, visit www.dawson.org or www.dawsonarts.org.

Traffic alert

Motorists should be aware that some roads in and around the city of Dawsonville will be closed from 7:30 to 10 a.m. Saturday for the Dawson County Kiwanis Club’s race.

The race will begin at Allen Street, then turn left on Perimeter Road to

Hwy. 9.

Runners will then travel north on Hwy. 9 to Frank Bruce Road.

Lt. Col. Greg Rowan with the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office said motorists driving into Dawsonville during this time from the Hwy. 136 area should use Burt Creek Road as the best alternate.