Event:
The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival

When:
Sat. & Sun., May 20 & 21, 2006

Times:
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. both days

Where:
Along the picturesque 1.25-mile-long water corridor known as The Woodlands Waterway ®, the landscaped path that meanders alongside the Waterway from The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center west past The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, culminating at the new four-acre Town Green Park.

http://www.woodlandsartfestival.com/TheWoodlandsWaterway.htm

Tickets:
Adults: $8; Admission is free for children 12 and under

Advance ticket available at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion’s Ticket Office, located at 2005 Lake Robbins Drive in The Woodlands, through May 19.

Parking:
Guests can park in any of the five free parking lots on the southwest side of the festival site. The free, color-coded lots are connected to the festival by corresponding pathways with signs leading across The Waterway. Guests also can choose to pay for closer parking in The Pavilion’s Town Center Garage located on Six Pines Drive. http://www.woodlandsartfestival.com/SiteMap.htm#

Featured Artist:
Scott Swezy and his piece titled “Woodlands Reflections.” http://www.woodlandsartfestival.com/Press%20releases.htm#

Offerings:
220 Artists from 22 states and 3 countries are selling their original creations in clay, drawing, fiber, furniture, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed media 2D, mixed media 3D, painting, photography, pastel sculpture, textile, watercolor and wood in this juried fine art festival; a student art area featuring works of local high school students; plus wine cafes, an Artopoly Kids Zone, an art mosaic and the Palette Café.

Entertainment:
Entertainment on two stages within the festival site features: OKEM International Band, Brother 2 Brother, Flying Fish Sailors, Dan Scott Band, Woodlands Civic Ballet, Kids Café, #1 Crush, McTeggert Irish Dancers, Michelle Yoklavich and more. The Palette Café features food from P.F. Chang’s China Bistro and Jasper’s Gourmet Backyard Cuisine with the largest selection of wines and beers at the festival.

Children’s Activities:
Young artists may create and take home art projects organized by The Woodlands Children’s Museum in the Artopoly Kids Zone in Town Green Park. Lend a hand to create a permanent art mosaic installation for Town Green Park, designed by artist Denise Liebl. The park is also the site of the student art exhibit featuring work by high school seniors from public and private schools in Montgomery County. Scholarships awarded in this first annual competition.

http://www.woodlandsartfestival.com/PressReleases2006/StudentArtCompetition.htm

Volunteers:
The festival needs approximately 400 volunteers over the weekend to assist in areas such as guest relations, artist relations, children’s art activities and the performing arts stage. Volunteers are asked to work at least one four-hour shift and will receive free admission to the festival and a festival t-shirt featuring artwork created by Scott Swezy. Individuals and charity groups may volunteer.

http://www.woodlandsartfestival.com/Volunteers.htm

Local Charity Partners:
The 2006 Charity Partners of The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival are the Art Colony Association, Children’s Museum of The Woodlands, The Pavilion Partners, TEAM Montgomery College and The Woodlands Waterway Arts Council. http://www.woodlandsartfestival.com/CharityPartnerSelect.htm

Producer:
The Woodlands Waterway Arts Council has partnered with the Art Colony Association, producer of the Bayou City Art Festivals, to produce The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival. The Art Colony Association, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, has been producing art festivals that benefit local charities for 35 years. The Bayou City Art Festivals annually rank among the top art festivals in the country for fine art and art patrons. http://www.woodlandsartfestival.com/ArtColonyAssociation.htm

Sponsors:
The Woodlands Town Center, The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center, The Woodlands Development Company, St. Luke’s Community Medical Center-The Woodlands and Texas Children’s Hospital, BMW of Houston North, KPRC-TV Ch. 2, The Houston Chronicle, Keller Williams Realty, Woodforest National Bank, Sunny 99.1 FM, Children’s Museum of The Woodlands and Sales Training International. http://www.woodlandsartfestival.com/Sponsors.htm

Information:
http://www.woodlandsartfestival.com, 713-521-0133 or woodlandsartfest@aol.com