28th Downtown Art Festvial

The pungent festival aromas of funnel cakes and popcorn waft through the streets, which are so packed with people it’s almost difficult to peek inside the white-tent booths lining the cobblestone streets. Kids play at the Imagination Station, where they make books, crazy hats and get their faces painted.

Saturday marked the first day of the 28^th annual Gainesville Downtown Festival and Art Show. Spanning from city hall to the Hippodrome Theatre, more than 250 booths displayed all types of local and national artwork, from paintings and sculptures to “silverwearable” jewelry and designer aprons.

“It’s just bigger and better than ever,” says Linda Piper, events coordinator for the city of Gainesville. According to Linda, the Downtown Festival and Art show is ranked the 27th best fine arts festival in the nation.

She says more than 600 artists applied to showcase their art in the festival and ultimately, artists were selected based on originality and technical expertise. In addition to the artwork, the festival showcases several local bands and entertainers on one of three stages set up in the area.

The free festival will continue today, Nov. 15, until 5pm.

—Elizabeth Behrman