This weekend will be busy from start to finish with plenty of art, theatre and culture to go around.

The Visual Artist Alliance of LaGrange will kick off the weekend with the opening reception for its annual show tonight at 7 p.m. at the LaGrange Art Museum. The VAAL exhibit will feature the work of a variety of artists from the area.

“The LaGrange Art Museum has hosted the Visual Artists Alliance of LaGrange Annual Exhibit for many years but this year is really special as it is VAALs 10th anniversary,” VAAL President Thea McElvy said. “This year’s show boasts 30 artists, 76 works and 12 awards.”

The show will feature several emerging artists as well as a wealth of local favorites.

“Whit Perry, long-time member, has photography of this year’s eclipse on display as well as Gail Grices latest stretch into abstract works,” McElvy said. “Seven of the organizations 13 new members will be showing in this exhibit including Darrell Chambers, Dennis Evan Bugg, Julie Heo, Patrick Foster, Bob and Carolyn Horn, Jessica Morgan and Donna Oshea. Darrell Chambers colorful works and Bob Horns masterful wood turning are sure to be new favorites.”

In the past, the show has allowed a featured artist to display his or her work on the entire second floor of the art museum, but this year a collection of Revolutionary War art that was created by VAAL artists will serve as the featured exhibit.

“Each year there has been a featured artist in the upstairs gallery during the LAM, VAAL annual exhibit,” McElvy said. “This year the feature is the Revolutionary War Art Project. Dr. Richard L. Ingram of Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center and Bobby Cammon of Three Points Framing commissioned 23 portraits and illustrations of heroes from the American Revolution. These works will become a touring exhibit with information shared at local schools. Coloring books of these images will be made and given to students to reinforce the stories of the heroes. Artists that participated in the project are Cindy Fulks, Sandy Cox, Donna O’Shea, Lori Harrell, Mary Fields, Jaasiel Barrientos, Joanna Baxter, Becky Guinn, Chris Johnson Charlie Warner and Thea McKay McElvy. This project will continue next year with more heroes and works added to the collection.”

The collection will feature a variety of both well-known and less known heroes of the Revolutionary War.

The VAAL and Revolutionary War art shows will be available for public viewing through Oct. 30. For more information about VAAL artists visit Vaalart.com.

If you would rather relive the best (and worst) parts of high school, High School Musical will be performed at New Horizon Community Theatre, located at 411 W 8th Street in West Point, on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., with a matinee showing at 2 p.m. on Saturday featuring younger actors in lead roles. Tickets are available at Nhct.org.

For those who would like to see the world, the LaGrange International Friendship Exchange will host a busy weekend starting with a high school art show at the Cochran Gallery on Friday. Then the weekend will really get rolling on Saturday when the LIFE Festival will take over Main Street with booths representing countries from around the world run by locals with ties to those countries. The festival will last from 3 to 7 p.m. and will feature food, activities and fun.

The Patriots Day Celebration for military, first responders and their families will also take place on Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. at Pyne Road Park.

If you are looking to spend some time with your favorite four-legged companion then the HYPE Bark at the Park dog walk and 5K may be more your speed. The event starts at 7 a.m. and is open to dogs and dog owners.

All funds raised will benefit the LaGrange-Troup County Humane Society.

If crafts are more your speed, Hogansville will be hosting its monthly Market Day Under the Lights at the Hogansville Train Depot from 5 to 10 p.m.

Craft lovers may also appreciate the workshop on garden art from objects  found at Hills & Dales Estate on Saturday at 10 a.m.

The event will feature local artist Marilyn Austin.

LIFE will close out the weekend with a 9/11 remembrance concert to honor first responders at Callaway Auditorium at 7 p.m.