N. Fla Fall Art Festival

[htmb]

This morning I joined the large crowd of folks enjoying the annual  downtown art festival in Gainesville. The weather was beautiful, but with a few roaming dark clouds to keep it interesting.  



Each fall the city closes off the streets of downtown to traffic and opens them up to over 200 artists, vendors, food vendors, and public service groups.

There was a very stiff breeze, but most of the art vendors had closed-topped tents to protect their wares. At one point a strong gust blew over several glass items in an open booth. I restrained myself from taking photos and left the poor artist to clean up his broken glassware with a bit of dignity still intact. Poor guy. 

There was also continuous musical entertainment offered on the Bo Diddley Downtown Community Plaza

[htmb]

There were many different types of food offerings: Greek, Mexican, Asian, Italian, etc. This vendor was happy to pose for a photo while frying up his corn and cheese treats.





The playbill in the foreground of the next picture advertises a comedy adaption of Stephen King's "Carrie," playing at the Hippodrome State Theater. The theater is now located in the old post office building and I was standing on the theater steps when I took th photo.









I saw a lot of nice art, including that by three exceptional photographers with very different styles. It was fun to talk to the artists about their work, see old friends, and get out in the lovely North Florida weather.

[Deleted]

Looks like lots of fun. If cities would close off their central streets more often for such events, they would probably be amazed at how much more popular they would become.

[htmb]

I think this is the 17th year for this particular art show. The festival in the spring has been a downtown event for approximately twice as long. The community has made a real concerted effort to revitalize downtown and also hosts many free concerts in the plaza, as well as family friendly Friday nights events. Once a months there is a downtown "art walk," when galleries keep their doors open late. All these events have helped downtown businesses and restaurants.

[bixaorellana]

How delightful, Htmb, & such wonderful photos to show it off. I have to admit I was distracted by the architecture of the courthouse (? -- anyway, the courthousey looking bldg in the first pic) & the wonderful column detailing in the photo of the dancing girls. Those glimpses, plus other views you've shown, make me think that Gainesville must be very lovely city.

And you gotta love a place that names its main plaza for Bo Diddley!

[htmb]

Bo Diddley had a home in the area going back to the 1970's.

The building you mentioned, bixa, is the old post office, now the Hippodrome State Theater.

[lugg]

Wonderful htmb, great photos and such colour

I so now wish to try the corn/mozarella concoction whilst listening to the music.

I have even (well nearly) put the gator pics out of my mind ;D )

[htmb]

Oh, thank you, lugg. I'm glad you liked the photos. The corn/mozzarella people actually had two stands, and I was very tempted to purchase something from them when I walked by the second stand on the way out.