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Celebrating its 28th anniversary in 2009, the Downtown Festival & Art Show presented by the City of Gainesville Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, is one of the nation’s premier outdoor fine arts Festivals. The streets of historic downtown Gainesville, from City Hall to the Hippodrome State Theatre, will be transformed into a celebration of art and creativity on Saturday, November 14 and Sunday, November 15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Downtown Festival & Art Show is Gainesville’s most beloved tradition and a nationally-recognized event. Since its creation, the Festival has risen to historic heights in national rankings, and since 1996, Sunshine Artist magazine has consistently recognized the Downtown Festival & Art Show as one of the top 200 shows in the nation. This year, Sunshine Artist magazine placed the festival at No. 27. An outdoor “street festival,” the art show attracts more than 100,000 people annually to view the works of over 250 of the nation’s most talented artists as they display their original oils and acrylics, vibrant watercolors, unique sculptures, dazzling jewelry, decorative ceramics and stunning photography. The 28th Annual Downtown Festival & Art Show is a great way to kick-off the holiday shopping season! A signature event on the North Florida cultural calendar, the arts Festival offers visitors the opportunity to meet the exhibiting artists and see their stunning pieces, sample fine cuisine, and enjoy live entertainment. Experience Gainesville's premier fall festival, a celebration of art and culture that you won't want to miss.

Performing Arts
The Festival weekend offers something for everyone. For the music lover, there are three stages of continuous live music and performances including folk, jazz, country, pop, and soul music, as well as ballet, jazz, modern and international dance performances. More than 20 local groups will perform over the course of the weekend, delighting the senses and showcasing area talent. The festival weekend begins with a free Downtown Blues Festival
with performances by the Florida Tazers, 6th Street Rhythm and Blues and Janiva Magness presented by the North Central Florida Blues Society on Friday, November 13th at 7 p.m. on the Community Plaza, featuring both local and regional acts.

Children's Art
With an entire area devoted solely to children, the festival will be a delight for the entire 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, creating sidewalk chalk murals, book-making, or mask designs; all are free of charge.The "Imagination Station" will also feature puppet shows and music for the young and the young at heart. Every year, the Imagination Station brings smiles to thousands of eager young children. These smiles are made possible by the dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers, Art Education students at the University of Florida, who work diligently during the entire fall semester to create this inspirational and unique experience.    

Culinary Arts
Along with enjoying the fine arts and entertainment, visitors can indulge themselves in the tastes of delectable foods from around the world including mouth-watering treats such as sweet barbecue ribs, hearty Mediterranean pitas, Greek gyros, bloomin’ onions, fish and chips, Cajun jambalaya, delectable Thai noodles and more.

As Gainesville celebrates art and music during the Downtown Festival & Art Show, AARP and Walgreens will give visitors a chance to improve their health. This year, the AARP/Walgreens Wellness Tour has chosen the arts festival as one of the stops on its nationwide journey. Visitors will receive free screenings valued at more than $140 to determine cholesterol levels, blood pressure, blood glucose levels, body mass index, bone density and waist circumference. The tour’s customized bus will be located on East University Avenue throughout the festival weekend.

Parking in the City  parking garage, 2 blocks west of Main Street ,
is $5.00 daily and open 24 hours a day.

Mark the dates for the 2010 Downtown Festival & Art Show
November 6 & 7, 2010

• Festival Information
• Press Releases
• Artist Application
• Volunteer Program
• Art Sponsor Program
• Entertainment Schedule
• Festival Artists
• Directions & Hotel Sponsors
• Festival Sponsors
• Email Us

Mailing address: Station 30
PO Box 490
Gainesville, FL 32602

Created by local Ocala resident and widely acclaimed artist Warner Whitfield. The piece depicts the serene beauty of North Central Florida’s natural scenery, much of what Whitfield’s art focuses on. Visions for his sculptures come from the forms, shapes and textures found in nature, and his floral motif styling is frequently compared to the late Art Nouveau pieces of the 19th Century Arts & Crafts Movement.

He began his apprenticeship under the guidance of Fritz Bachman, a master glass blower from Hamburg, Germany in 1972. By 1976, Whitfield had established his own studio. After attending the Portland School of Art and the University of Maine, he studied at the Haystack Craft School in Maine and the Penland Craft School in North Carolina, two of the most renowned craft schools in the world.

Whitfield uses a thousand year old lampworking technique to form his sculptures. He creates each piece with just colored glass rods or tubes and a gas-oxygen flame. Whitfield’s choice of borosilicate glass, combined with the use of complex coloring, provide insight into his advanced level of glass blowing. He is a nationally admired artist, and has had his art displayed in many galleries and has won numerous juried exhibition.

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