28th Annual Downtown Festival & Art Show Ad

North Floridas art scene switches into high gear with the return of Gainesvilles most beloved fine art festival, the Downtown Festival & Art Show. More than 100,000 art lovers and collectors will fill the tree-lined streets of historic downtown Gainesville to enjoy and purchase one-of-a-kind artwork. Original oils and acrylics, vibrant watercolors, unique sculpture, dazzling jewelry, decorative ceramics and vivid photography by 250 local and national artists provide something for everyones collection and budget. This is also a great opportunity to start your holiday shopping!

For music lovers, the Festival features continuous, live entertainment on three stages by local bands, solo musicians and dance companies. Presented by the North Central Florida Blues Society the Festival weekend kicks off Friday night at 7 p.m. with a Downtown Blues Festival at the Bo Diddley Community Plaza featuring the winner of the 2006 and 2007 Blues Music Awards for Best Contemporary Female Artist of the Year, Janiva Magness.
With an entire area devoted solely to children, the Festival will be a delight for the whole family. Children can spend an entire day immersed in a world of art and creativity as they visit the Imagination Station, discovering their own artistic talents which feature a large selection of free hands-on activities including sidewalk-chalk drawing, painting, mask design, puppet and button creation and clay sculpting. The Imagination Station will also feature entertainment including magic shows, puppet shows and music for the young and the young at heart.

Near the steps of the Hippodrome State Theatre, the Community Information Area presents a venue for more than 45 local non-profit organizations to showcase their programs and services. Dozens of food vendors will offer a diverse selection of appetizing foods ranging from bloomin onions to Pad Thai at more than 24 food concession booths. The festival incorporates many multi-cultural dishes.

Volunteering at the Downtown Festival & Art Show is a great way to have fun while giving back to the community. If you would like to join our amazing team of volunteers for the 2009 Downtown Festival & Art Show please contact Linda Piper, Festival Coordinator, at 352-393-8536. Applications may be downloaded from our Web site at www.gvlculturalaffairs.org. We look forward to seeing you at this years Arts Festival.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Gainesville
• Art Festival