How to make the most of First Friday and Art in the City

Art in the City is a downtown-wide celebration of visual and performing arts. From 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 4, experience an array of visual arts demonstrations, live shows, make-and-take creation stations, pop-up performances and more. Here’s what you can expect at Friday’s event:

PAINT! The Art in the City juried art show, curated by the Dayton Visual Arts Center, returns Aug. 4-18. Find 25 mini pop-up gallery exhibits placed in 25 downtown businesses. Discover a new artist – and perhaps a new favorite hangout. On Aug. 4, check out participatory art activities and art-making stations throughout downtown, stroll the six-block Art Walk on Jefferson, featuring fiber art activities by K12 Gallery & TEJAS, and enjoy live demos, performances and more.

PERFORM! You’ll find string quartets, theatrical vignettes, funky beats, whimsical puppets, and more. Enjoy live performances inside and outside the Schuster Center, Victoria Theatre and Loft Theatre, and pop-up performances in downtown businesses and roving downtown streets.

PARTY! From 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 4, you’ll encounter visual and performing arts activities in or near many of your favorite outdoor spots for Party on the Patio. Kick back with dinner and drinks and soak in the arts and culture from your seat.

With all of these events happening around downtown, many simultaneously, it can be hard to know where to focus. Here is some advice from the Downtown Dayton Partnership: 1. Make a game plan: There are more than 100 artists and arts organizations participating in Art in the City. If you want to squeeze the most out of the experience, use the map to plan your evening. Pick one up at the DDP office (10 W. Second St. #611), at a participating business (look for the special Art in the City dots), or at one of three info stations during the event (near Trolley Stop in the Oregon District, near Gilly’s at Fifth and Jefferson, and near the Schuster Center at Main and Second). 2. Work up an appetite: Explore the city and check out artwork before your feast at a downtown restaurant. Chances are if you wait until 7 p.m. or later for dinner, you’ll miss the biggest rush of the night. But to be guaranteed a seat at a specific time, nothing beats making a reservation.

3. Park smart: The Arts Garage and the lot next to K12 Gallery & TEJAS are both free this special night. Don’t forget

on-street parking is free after 6 p.m. as well. Need more places? Use the Easy Park guide: www.easyparkdowntown.com 4. Try something new: Art in the City is your chance to sample a smorgasbord of visual and performing arts. It’s free! Check out a popup performance or watch a live art demonstration for a medium or style you typically shy away from.

5. Bring the family: Art in the City is a great opportunity to immerse the little ones in arts and culture. Don’t miss the Art Walk on Jefferson with its art-making stations, or the Family Arts Corner featuring the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance Volunteer Association’s Instrument Petting Zoo, Magic by Dave Davis, Hair-Raising Science with Mister C, and a participatory art activity led by local artist Margie Grove.

6. Vote and win: There will be ballot boxes this night only at downtown’s juried art show. The Dayton Visual Arts Center has curated 25 local artists who will exhibit one of their works in 25 downtown businesses. Vote for your favorite artist and help him or her win a cash prize. You can also vote on Dayton.com (opens Friday, Aug. 4). You can also win at Art in the City – fill out the response card and drop them in the buckets near activity areas.

For more information about the 100+ artists and arts organizations participating in Art in the City, visit www.downtowndayton.org.