LOUISVILLE, Ky. — What started as a clothesline art show to raise money to fix the famous St. James fountain has now turned into over 600 artists setting up shop in Old Louisville for the 67th year in a row.

This year, artists from 46 states and Canada are in town with booths for everything from paintings, charcuterie boards and decorative baskets.

Susan Mackowiak has been a creator all her life.

“So everything is beach themed, and the name of my booth is Sunshine Beach Gallery,” said Mackowiak. 

Mackowiak lives in Louisville now, but she’s originally from Miami. Her gallery is for anyone wanting some fun in the sun.

Mackowiak  is one of 660 artists from all over the country and Canada coming to share their works for the weekend.

Organizers say it takes 364 days of planning to make the art show a success.

“On Wednesday, it’s this great neighborhood. On Thursday, it becomes this great art show and on Monday it goes back to the neighborhood. And seeing it develop and grow within a few days that really excites me because I just feel like I’m part of something that’s so spectacular and that’s what gives me joy,” said St. James Ct. Art Show Executive Director Howard Rosenberg.

The show has a $5.5 million economic impact annually.

And artists like Mackowiak look forward to bringing the beach to Kentucky.

“I like sharing my artwork. And as I told my husband, I said ‘You know, it’s nice coming to the shows because I can’t keep creating and we don’t have a house big enough to store everything,’” said Mackowiak. 

The St. James Court Art Show  kicks off Friday, Oct. 6 at 10 a.m. and runs through Sunday, Oct. 8.