A Walk in the Park

The Champaign Park District, Champaign County Sports Commission, and 40 North | 88 West - Champaign County's Arts, Culture & Entertainment Council - invite you to take A Walk in the Park, part of the Downtown Festival of the Arts:

Saturday, August 19, from 12:00 to 7:00pm
and
Sunday, August 20, from 12:00 to 5:00pm*

Art lovers and health enthusiasts everywhere are invited to this first-ever art walk through West Side Park and Downtown Champaign. Kicking off the event, Congressman Tim Johnson will welcome walkers at an opening ceremony in the News Gazette Entertainment Tent in West Side Park at Noon on Saturday, August 19.

How to Participate
Art and exercise come together when you visit eight art stations located throughout West Side Park and Downtown Champaign. Stations will be listed inside an official Event Map. Take your Map with you on your walk, so you can get it stamped as you reach each station. Get a stamp at all eight stations and return your Map to the Information Tent to be entered in a drawing for a free IPOD and a Body N Sole Gift Certificate!

Be sure to watch for the August 16th edition of the News-Gazette for the special Map pullout. Maps will also be available at the Information Tent in West Side Park. Free pedometers will be given away (while supplies last) to help you take a step in the right direction to a healthier you (and a step toward some great artwork!).

The winning name will be drawn at 5:00pm on Sunday,
August 20, at the News Gazette Entertainment tent.

Guess the number of steps Congressman Johnson takes on his art walk Saturday and win a free 2007 season pool pass to Sholem Aquatic Center - for up to 4 family members!

Interested in volunteering at A Walk in the Park? Help direct walkers to participating stations, answer questions, hand out goodie bags and more. Contact Wes Hanner at the Champaign County Sports Commission: 217.531.4701, or WesH@champaigncounty.org.

*These Walk in the Park stations will be open Saturday only:

Verde Gallery
open Saturday, August 19, 8:00am - 10:00pm
Wind Water & Light
Saturday, August 19, 11:00am - 8:00pm.

The 3rd Annual Downtown Festival of the Arts
Throughout the weekend of August 19-20, West Side Park in Downtown Champaign will play host to over 60 talented artists showcasing a variety of awe-inspiring artwork for your viewing (and purchasing) pleasure. The art on display will span a wide range of media including photography, watercolor, sculpture, glasswork, ceramics, painting, jewelry and more.

Enjoy live entertainment from fourteen of the area’s most prominent bands, such as Candy Foster & the Shades of Blue, Modern Cowboyz, and Steely Pan - just to name a few.

Artists of all sizes are encouraged to stop by the Little Artist Booths and let their imaginations run wild. Free this year, kids can make a paper lantern, create and finish a Monster Mosaic Mural, and toot horns in the Musical Petting Zoo. Inflatable rides and games will also be available for a small fee.

StreetFest
Join us after the event Saturday night at 7:30 pm - Midnight for our last StreetFest of the summer. The Delta Kings and Jammsammich will provide live entertainment in Downtown Champaign at the corner of Neil and Main Streets. Don’t miss this opportunity to sit back, relax, and enjoy some great tunes in an awesome outdoor atmosphere!

Downtown Festival of the Arts is sponsored by the Champaign Park District in addition to these generous community organizations:

The News Gazette
WCIA 3
City of Champaign
93.5/95.3 The Rock
Q96
105.9 WGKC
Pepsi
The Hub
Champaign County Sports Commission
40 North | 88 West

For more details, call Laura Auteberry - Marketing Manager for the Champaign Park District - at 217.398.2550, or visit www.champaignparkdistrict.com.