ArtWalk Paints the Town

The bayside version of this local art festival draws near

The fourth annual ArtWalk on the Bay is expected to attract up to 40,000 to downtown’s Embarcadero Marine Park North for the free outdoor arts festival. More than 100 artists and performers will show of their talents September 12-13.

“We get a great mix of locals, as well as visitors who are in the downtown hotels,” says event organizer Sandi Cottrell. She notes that serious art buyers can preview pieces that will be on sale at artwalkonthebay.org.

ArtWalk on the Bay (not to be confused with the 25-year-old ArtWalk held in Little Italy) offers something for both young and old. Youngsters can grab a brush at KidsWalk, a hands-on area where families can sit down and paint elbow-to-elbow.

“We’re going to paint kites, and we’re going to paint cows—and whatever else somebody wants to paint,” says KidsWalk organizer Judy Berman Silbert, who is also program director of nonprofit youth initiative ArtReach. She says Jerome’s Furniture is sponsoring a contest where kids draw their dream room and the winner gets…you guessed it, some furniture.

Parched adults can take advantage of a new feature at ArtWalk on the Bay: The Bayside Lounge. Festival-goers can take a break from canvassing the park and refresh with beer and wine. The lounge is run by Fast Forward Events (they do the annual San Diego Wine & Food Festival on this very site) and partial proceeds will benefit ArtReach. 

Two driving notes: Parking and shuttle service will be available at the County Administration Building. And, there will be a Subaru Outback designated for guest painting, as well as Subarus available for test drives. Hmmm, perhaps a “test drive” to your own car parked at the County Administration Building…

Ron Donoho is a regular contributor to NBCSandiego.com, editorial director of “Pacific SD” magazine and a contributing editor to sandiego.com. His Web site (sandiegoDTOWN.com) is dedicated to news, sports, culture, happy hours and all things downtown.

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