VOLUNTEERS

“Nationally Acclaimed Fall Arts Festival
Returns to Gainesville”

“Help the Arts: Become a Volunteer”

Gainesville is a hub of creativity in North Central Florida, and our community takes pride in its hardworking artistic element that thrives to make the city bright and culturally satisfying year round. Now in its 29th year, the Annual Downtown Festival & Art Show is our city’s most anticipated event. Ranked as one of the “Top 200 Events” in the nation since 1996, the Festival continues to grow each year. Volunteers are a large part of what makes this event so successful. Through the support of dedicated community members, the Festival is able to run smoothly and continues to be an event everyone will enjoy. Volunteering at this event is a great way to get involved in the community while having fun at the same time.

The City of Gainesville Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs is searching for people, organizations and businesses that would like to support our community by becoming volunteers for the 29th Annual Downtown Festival & Art Show. Four-hour shifts are available on Saturday, November 6 or Sunday, November 7 to volunteers of all ages. Volunteer opportunities include assisting in the Information Booth, selling T-shirts and posters, booth sitting for artists or helping with the Children’s Imagination Station, a free, hands-on art activity area. As a token of our appreciation, volunteers will receive a commemorative T-shirt for being a part of this community event.

North Florida’s art scene switches into high gear with the return of Gainesville’s 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 everyone’s 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. The festivities kick off Friday night at 7 p.m. with a Downtown Blues Festival filled with sultry sounds presented by the North Central Florida Blues Society. These musical treats are absolutely free and open to the public.

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.

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 authentic Pad Thai cuisine 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. Please return the Volunteer Sign-Up Form, found as a link on this page, by Friday, October 22nd.  If you would like to volunteer or need more information, you can also contact Linda Piper, Festival Coordinator, at (352)393-8536.

What is the Downtown Festival and Art Show?

• North Central Florida’s premier fall festival of the arts, ranked one of the 200 best shows in the nation.

• 250 artists from across the nation displaying and selling their unique work including paintings, ceramics, jewelry, photography, and more.

• An outdoor festival that draws more than 100,000 visitors to historic downtown Gainesville.

• A celebration of music with continuous entertainment on three stages and a Downtown Blues Concert on Friday evening.

• An event for the whole family, with an Imagination Station for children, and something to appeal to everyone’s tastes.

 
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City of Gainesville
Cultural Affairs
302 NE 6th Avenue
(352)393-8536
(352)334-2249-Fax

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