March 5th , 2008

The Woodlands, TX - The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival, a juried fine art show featuring more than 200 national and regional artists of various mediums, is in the final stages of planning its third annual event slated for April 12 and 13, 2008, in the heart of The Woodlands.

The event takes place along the meandering Waterway from The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center alongside The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, culminating at Town Green Park. This beautifully landscaped site features ample parking, water taxi and trolley service along the entire length of the festival, concessions within the festival site, and an array of eateries and shops within walking distance of the festival.


The featured artist for the third annual Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival is Sally Maxwell, a master scratchboard artist from LaGrange, Texas. Maxwell has more than 30 years experience as an artist and began working in this medium several years ago. Her love of Texas wildlife can be seen in her work, as well as in the featured artwork for the festival.

At the festival, The Woodlands Children's Museum and The Woodlands Art League present interactive art activities for children at "Artopoly" in Town Green Park, which is also the site of an exhibition of student art from public and private schools in Montgomery County. Live entertainment on two stages and fine dining selections at the "Palette Café," featuring food from signature eateries, provides guests with a relaxing atmosphere. The John P. McGovern Museum of Health & Medical Science is on hand with "Healing Arts," interactive performances and exhibits where festival-goers learn about the art of healing.

If international art is your passion, you can enjoy exhibits by several featured artists from Mexico whose art, in various mediums, is featured at this year's event. At "Showcase Mexico," the festival celebrates the cultural arts of Mexico with musical performances, food and fine arts and crafts from these celebrated Mexican artists and craftsmen.

A unique addition to launch the 2008 festival is a Floating Art Parade reflecting this year's chosen theme of "Water Creatures." For the parade, area businesses, organizations and individuals are invited to design and build floats that will glide down the Waterway beginning at 10:30 a.m. on April 12 in conjunction with the opening of the festival. Festival jurors get to vote for the best entry to decide the winner of The Waterway Cup, a unique piece of art designed by one of the festival artists. After judging and awarding The Waterway Cup, the floats are anchored and displayed throughout the festival weekend.

Participants in the Floating Art Parade must submit an application along with a rendering and brief description of their entry. The deadline for the application and rendering is March 24, 2008. Please visit www.woodlandsartsfestival.com for eligibility requirements, rules and regulations and to obtain official entry forms.

The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival needs approximately 700 volunteers over the weekend to assist in areas such as artist relations, gate monitors and greeters, children's art activities, student art exhibit, surveys and more. Volunteers must work a four-hour shift and, in exchange, receive free admission to the festival and a festival t-shirt featuring Sally Maxwell's artwork. Individuals as well as charity groups and service organizations can volunteer. Volunteers must be 17 or older. Individuals interested in volunteering for the festival should complete the online volunteer registration form that can be found at www.woodlandsartsfestival.com. This form and other volunteer information can be found under "Join Us."

Festival hours are 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $10 for adults. Children 12 and under are admitted free of charge. Proceeds from the festival benefit local arts-related organizations that are charity partners with the festival. Charity partners for 2008-09 are The Pavilion Partners, Town Center Theatre and The Woodlands Art League.

Guests attending the festival 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 $5 for closer parking in The Pavilion's Town Center Garage located on Six Pines Drive.