It seems the summer is passing so quickly and as we enter into the month of August, the town is preparing for the upcoming school year and celebrating the ending of summer with fun, frivolity and a festival.

The third annual Arter Limits Fringe Festival will be taking place in a week so get ready for a cultural extravaganza like no other.

The Yoknapatawpha Arts Council continues to make Oxford a community that celebrates the arts of all types including theatre, music, visual arts and more. This festival celebrates the creative, unusual, and experimental with something for everyone.

There is a huge line-up of offerings including free events and ticketed events. This year they have introduced two different tiers of buttons that will get you into various shows for one easy payment. I already have my all-inclusive button so I do not miss anything. You can find out more about the buttons and pricing at http://arterlimits2016.bpt.me/.

But let’s get down to the nitty gritty. What is there to do at the Arter Limits Fringe Festival?

For the art lovers, there is an art auction and show at the Powerhouse Gallery, showings at North Light Gallery, Frame Up Gallery, University Museum, and Southside Gallery. The Yokna Sculpture Trail is also featured on the schedule as a place to view great public art in several outdoor locations in town. Hours for all locations are listed in the schedule.

There will also be a Free Sketch Friday at the University Museum where patrons can grab a stool and sketch what they see in the galleries from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Secret Show will provide all kinds of fun at an undisclosed location. Participants will be notified on the day of where the party will be held.

On Saturday, the Oxford Maker’s Market will be set up at the old armory pavilion— @thearmory — where there will be arts and crafts vendors, activities, a demo on making glass beads by Angela King, an interactive chalk activity with UM Department art students and many more activities set up for all ages.

Locations and affiliated participants in the fun include The Shelter on Van Buren, the above mentioned galleries and museum, Cedar Oaks Mansion, Burns Belfry and LQC Lamar House, Proud Larry’s, Square Books, Mugg Cakes, Yalobusha Brewing Company and the Oxford Growler. The founding sponsors of the festival include Blake Tart III and Cathead Vodka. Festival sponsors include MAC, YAC and Visit Oxford.

The line-up of music, performance art, dance and theatre, comedy and sketch is impressive and too lengthy to put in this one column. What you should know is that we are lucky in this town to have such go-getters willing to put together such a big roster of events, shows and performances.

The fun will begin on Aug. 11 and end on Aug. 14. The schedule for each day is extensive and all information can be obtained by going to the following link: http://www.oxfordarts.com/8-frontpage/213-fringe-tickets-now-on-sale.

ANDI BEDSWORTH is owner of Art To Go, which brings free art opportunities to children in the community.