After a yearlong hiatus, a familiar South Florida art event is back in business.

The struggling economy forced the cancellation of the annual Art in the Park event in 2008, but organizers with the Plantation Junior Woman's Club say the art and fine crafts festival is back -- and bigger than ever.

``It is back, it is green and we are committed to making this an event the community really looks forward to,'' said co-chairwoman Janan Fernandes of Plantation.

The outdoor art fair, set for Saturday-Nov. 15 in Plantation's Liberty Tree Park, will attract more than 140 artists in all media, including glass works, pottery, photography, stained glass, watercolor, painting and jewelry. Reflecting the theme, Art in the Park Goes Green, there's a new category of art made from recycled materials as well as green-themed sponsors and information booths.

``There is really going to be something for everyone, in nearly any budget,'' Fernandes said.

Liberty Tree Park is in the final stages of an expansion, thanks to a 2003 purchase of land that used to be home to the Elks Club, so the event will be twice the size as in past years. Fine arts will be set up on the east side of the park and crafts on the west side. The open-air stage will showcase live music all weekend plus there's a Kids Korner with a playground, entertainment, a community ID program and art activities -- some with a green theme. And there will be the usual array of festival foods.

Art in the Park has a fixture on the South Florida art scene for more than 40 years. It had been postponed only once, due to Hurricane Wilma in 2005. But last year, the combination of a troubled economy and soaring gas prices was going to keep too many artists away, organizers said.

``We felt we wouldn't be able to put on a quality art show, so we had to cancel it,'' Fernandes said.

Art in the Park stands out, Fernandes said, because it is the only art show of its size that is put on entirely by volunteers -- members of the Plantation Junior Woman's Club. All proceeds from the show benefit local services and institutions, including the Helen B. Hoffman Library, the art departments of local schools, Plantation Historical Museum, the city's Parks & Recreation Department and scholarships for Plantation high school students.

``It is the kind of an event that is put on by the community, for the community,'' Fernandes said.

Established in 1962, the Plantation Junior Woman's Club also hosts a Holiday Home Tour, an annual fundraiser for Make-A-Wish, beautification projects and many other efforts.

The group is asking festivalgoers to bring canned goods and nonperishable food that will be distributed to local food banks.

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