Gwinnett Daily Post

STONE MOUNTAIN - The 40th annual Yellow Daisy Festival opens today, showcasing the work of more than 500 artists and crafters from 38 states and two countries.

The Stone Mountain event's promoters are hoping rain won't dampen the festival, which has previously drawn more than 200,000 people over the course of the four-day event, but if inclement weather should occur, the event will go on.

"We do the festival rain or shine," said Kelley Swann, director of marketing for Stone Mountain Park. In the case of rain, "people just usually bring an umbrella or a poncho," she added.

In addition to the artists' and crafters' booths, the Yellow Daisy Festival, which runs through Sunday, includes daily live entertainment, activities for children, crafter demonstrations, festival foods and even a Men's Den.

New this year, the festival will be promoting environmental awareness by providing free reusable shopping bags made of biodegradable materials, and recycling bins will be placed throughout the festival grounds.

For more information on this year's event, visit stonemountainpark.com.

SideBar: If you go

· What: Yellow Daisy

Festival

· When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and Friday,

10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday

· Where: Stone Mountain Park, U.S. Highway 78 East, Exit 8, Stone Mountain

· Cost: Free with a $10 one-day parking pass

· More information: stonemountainpark.com