Courtesy photo Hubie the Clown makes balloon art for children at the 2007 festival.

For more than four decades, the Blair County Arts Festival has brought the local community together every year to celebrate art. This year is no exception.

The festival began its 41st consecutive year at 5:30 p.m. Thursday evening at the Penn State Altoona campus with the Juried Fine Art Preview and Art After Hours event, continues with Children’s Day on Friday, and opens to the public from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. ‘‘Piecing together the arts at Penn State Altoona’’ is this year’s slogan.

‘‘We have a quilt theme this year, so the name ties in with that — literally and figuratively,’’ said Karen Volpe, festival coordinator. ‘‘Because that’s what happens with this — you’re piecing together all these different art forms, all in one location.’’

Art After Hours begins at the Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts and includes an awards ceremony for the Juried Fine Art Exhibition’s winning artists.