On Monday afternoon, Art in the Square officials were busy painting a banner to advertise the upcoming seventh annual festival.

The banner will hang on the Georgia Mountains Center’s parking deck, advertising what has become a tradition for Gainesville’s art scene.

This year, officials expect about 100 artists will be displaying and selling their crafts, including pottery, jewelry, painting and photography.

Already, a silent auction has begun that raises money for Challenged Child and Friends. The auction includes paintings, and for the first time, small, decorated lamps. It ends the day of the event, Sept. 18. The paintings this year can be of any size; in the past it was limited to small paintings.

“The little lamps are something new that we haven’t ever done before,” Art in the Square Festival Director Anne Brodie Hill said. “And they’re really cool. I mean some of the artists just went way above and beyond what I thought they would do.”

Close to 30 paintings are available at Gallery 110 in downtown Gainesville, and the lamps are available at Frames You-Nique, also on the square.

The event also includes the Youth Artist Market produced by Interactive Neighborhood for Kids Inc. and featuring children’s art.

For Art in the Square itself, many artists from past years will be returning, including Mary Ann Klimek who creates raku-fired pottery, Phil Fontaine who makes banjos and Margaret Cameron who paints works of art on screen doors, Hill said.

One artist, Olaf Gradin, will host a workshop where visitors can build their own drum.

For the event, Bradford Street will be closed between Spring and Washington streets. The festival has been extended two hours to end at 7 p.m.