From Release:

Artsfest 2008 - “Art Goes Green”
Saturday, May 3 - 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 4 - 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

$3 Advance tickets, $5 Gate Admission

The 28th annual Artsfest Fine Arts Festival, a celebration of visual and performing arts, will be held May 3 &; 4, 2008 on Historic Walnut Street. The festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 3; and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 4. Artsfest will be held on Historic Walnut Street, from National Avenue to west of John Q. Hammons Parkway.

Artsfest is sponsored by the Springfield Regional Arts Council, and managed by the Urban Districts Alliance.

More than 140 artists, from across the country, will participate in this year’s festival. Hector Salgado Aranda, Artsfest’s second international artist, also will be featured at this year’s fine arts festival showcasing his world-renowned jewelry. Artsfest artists’ mediums include clay, drawing, fiber, glass, jewelry, metal, mixed media, painting, photography and printmaking. Artsfest also will feature five performance stages throughout the festival grounds.

In conjunction with this year’s theme “Art Goes Green”, Artsfest is partnering with the James River Basin Partnership to promote Rain Barrel Reveal 2008; a project promoting a good way to utilize rainwater, conserve water, and avoid excess pollutants picked up from yards and streets. A rain barrel is a system that collects and stores rainwater that would otherwise be lost to runoff and diverted to storm drains and streams. A number of rain barrels are currently being designed by local and regional artists, and will be on display to the public during this year’s festival. The professionally designed rain barrels will be located at the various event entrances, as well as in the Art Garden area of the festival.

Advance $3 Artsfest discount tickets are available at area McDonald’s Restaurants beginning Monday, April 7 through Friday, May 2, 2008. Gate admission is $5 for adults; children 10 and under are free. Those bringing animals will be asked to fill out a liability waiver at the entrance gate and are asked to respect the artists and their booths.

Art Gardens
Don’t miss the Artsfest Art Gardens that are a new addition to this year’s festival. Located south of Walnut Street on John Q. Hammons Parkway, this area will feature a number of the rain barrels designed by local and regional artists, as well as simulated art gardens created by area high school students using recycled materials. Also, don’t miss the on-site creation of an art garden sculpture during festival hours.

Art-Town Downtown
Art-Town Downtown is back offering a number of hands-on activities for kids. Located on West Walnut, this area will feature several projects including “Chalk it Up”, foam fun children’s hats, decorating art garden rain barrels and much more.

Win $500 by Voting for Your Favorite Artist – Saturday, May 3
On Saturday, guests can vote for their favorite Artsfest artist. Participants will have a chance to win $500 in Artsfest Art Bucks to be used at Sunday’s festival.

“An Evening at Artsfest” With the Springfield Symphony Under the Stars – Saturday, May 3
On Saturday evening, enjoy a live performance by the Springfield Symphony in Jordan Valley Park. This FREE event begins at 7:30 p.m.

ArtsFiesta! - Friday, May 2
In conjunction with Artsfest, the Springfield Sister Cities Association and American Family Insurance present ArtsFiesta!, a Cinco de Mayo celebration of Mexican art, culture and music with an authentic Mariachi band from Springfield’s sister city, Tlaquepaque, Mexico. ArtsFiesta! will be held Friday, May 2, 2008 from 6 to 10 p.m., in Founders Park in Downtown Springfield. Gate admission is $3; children 10 and under free.

Artsfest Paint Out - Saturday, May 3
Artists Competition from 10:30 am to 3 p.m. Check-in at the Arts Council Booth on the Northeast corner of Historic Walnut Street and Hammons Parkway, then artists will be free to spread out and create a painting or drawing of Historic Walnut Street. At 3pm, judging will commence on the back porch of Artworx Studio at 938 E. Walnut. Artists will bring all their own supplies to make Artfest 2008 their studio for the day. Please register ahead of time using the form below. A box lunch will be served for all registered artists.

Artsfest 2008 sponsors include: CoxHealth, Hoover Music Company, Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, McDonald’s Restaurants, Ozarks Coca-Cola/ Dr Pepper Bottling Co., 95.5 Alice, 100.5 The Wolf, 105.9 KGBX, Springfield News-Leader, Ozarks Parent & Family, John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts, The Coffee Ethic, American Family Insurance, Merrill Lynch, The Center for Plastic Surgery, Liberty Bank, Ebbet's Field, Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law, LLC, Boyd Aluminum, City of Springfield, Springfield Greene-County Parks & Recreation.

For more information, contact the Springfield Regional Arts Council at 417-862-ARTS (2787).