INTRODUCTION

Celebrating its 27th anniversary in 2008, 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 8 and Sunday, November 9 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. 23. An outdoor “street festival,” the art show attracts more than 100,000 people annually to view the works of over 250of 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 27th 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.

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

This year’s poster image captured the beauty of wildlife in Gainesville. Leslie Peebles, a local painter and printmaker who has been showing her artwork in North Central Florida for 12 years, has beautifully captured the image of Sandhill Cranes flying over Paynes Prairie. The medium, lino-cut block print involves a process of drawing the image then transferring it to a linoleum block. It took Peebles a total of 50 hours to carve and complete this project.

The particular scene on this year’s poster image is from a series of photographs Peebles took at Paynes Prairie. After noticing a large group of cranes, she stopped and walked back to photograph them. The cranes were startled after a couple of pictures, but she was able to get an amazing series of in-flight shots. The poster image is a combination of several photographs of both landscape details and cranes.

“I wanted the viewer to feel the drama of their migratory cycles and their connection to this amazing place,” Peebles said.

Celebration of Music
A new addition for this year’s Festival is a Music Showcase beginning Thursday, November 6 through Saturday, November 8. The Music Showcase will be held at the Downtown Community Plaza at 7 pm each evening.  The variety of music includes a Country Concert on Thursday, a Blues Concert on Friday, and a Smooth Jazz Concert on Saturday. The music line up includes a Country Concert on Thursday, featuring Chris Young, RCA Nashville Recording Artist and winner of the 2006 Nashville Star. On Friday evening for the Blues Concert Gainesville’s own blues band “Blues-matics” will take the stage at 7pm. They will offer up a sound that couples Chicago, Memphis and Western Swing. At 9pm join us as Magic Slim and the Treardrops perform. Magic Slim is the greatest living proponent of the intense, electrified, Mississippi-to-Chicago blues style that spawned much of the music played by modern blues artists. A Smooth Jazz Concert will happen on Saturday and will feature a blend of smooth jazz, retro and soul vibes, and world beat by Jazz musician Matt Marshak and saxophonist Jeff Kashiwa. These musical treats are absolutely FREE and open to the public.

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.    

Photo by Jeff Greenberg

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. 

No pets permitted within the Festival.

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