Event:

The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival

When:

Sat. & Sun., April 12 & 13, 2008

Times:

Saturday 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

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 Town Green Park.

Tickets:

Adults: $10; Admission is free for children 12 and under
Advance tickets available at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion’s Ticket Office, located at 2005 Lake Robbins Drive in The Woodlands.

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

Featured Artist:

Sally Maxwell, a master scratchboard artist from LaGrange, Texas.

Offerings:

200 artists from all over the United States and several countries are selling their original creations in clay, drawing, fiber, furniture, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed media 2D, mixed media 3D, painting, pastel, photography, sculpture, textile, watercolor and wood in this juried fine art festival; a student art area featuring works of local high school students; entertainment on two stages, an Artopoly Kids Zone, artist demonstrations and the Palette Café.

Entertainment:

Live entertainment on two stages and fine dining selections at the “Palette Café,” featuring food from signature eateries, provides guests with a relaxing atmosphere.

Floating Art Parade:

Interested participants can design and create a floating art piece that reflects this year’s chosen theme, “Water Creatures,” to participate in the Floating Art Parade. The best entry receives The Waterway Cup, a unique piece of art designed by festival glass artist Robert Rynearson. Festival jurors will vote for the best entry. After the judging and awarding of The Waterway Cup, the floats will be anchored and displayed throughout the festival weekend.

The Palette Café:

The Palette Café features food from P.F. Chang's China Bistro and Jasper’s 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 and The Woodlands Art League in the Artopoly Kids Zone in Town Green Park.

Showcase Mexico:

Our invited artists from Mexico will celebrate the rich culture of their country with a display of fine arts and crafts.

Other Special Features:

An exhibit in Town Green Park features the winners of student art from public and private schools in Montgomery County. Scholarships awarded in this annual competition. The John P. McGovern Museum of Health & Medical Science is on hand at the Healing Arts Center with interactive performances and exhibits.

Volunteers:

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.

Local Charity Partners:

The 2008 Charity Partners for The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival are The Pavilion Partners, The Woodlands Art League and Town Centre Theatre.

Producer:

The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival, now in its third year, is produced by The Woodlands Waterway Arts Council a  501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Sponsors:

The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center, The Woodlands Development Company, The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau, Winstead PC, KPRC, Houston Community Newspapers, Woodforest National Bank, Memorial Hermann Hospital—The Woodlands, BMW of Houston FM 1960 North, Keller Williams Realty, Jefferson Wells, and Silver Eagle Distributors.

Information:

www.woodlandsartsfestival.com or info@woodlandsartsfestival.com