Dozens of artists will show off their unique creations in downtown Ames Thursday, June 6 for the 30th annual Art Walk.
Ames Chamber of Commerce vice president Jan Williams said the yearly showcase has become a tradition that many look forward to. The 2024 rendition will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. inside and outside various Main Street businesses.
“It’s a way to engage with the locals, visitors, consumers, small businesses,” Williams said. “It’s a place for them to converge together and experience different artists.”
More than 40 artists will converge on the downtown corridor Thursday, anchored by a variety of specialties, including paintings, jewelry, photographs, woodworking, pottery, sculptures, and music.
Each artist will be paired with a downtown business, which Williams said helps attendees better understand the value of shopping local.
“(The Art Walk) is going to be a mix of familiarity – artists who might have been here in the past – with the taste of something new,” Williams said. “The blend is good, which I think makes it exciting.”
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Art Walk continues to grow
Douglas Avenue will be closed Thursday evening from Main Street to 5th Street to accommodate the 45 Art Walk participants.
The Art Walk’s popularity has increased as the years have gone on, Ames Chamber of Commerce director of events Emory Widlowski said.
The event brings the community together for a unique night of fun.
“(The Art Walk) gives community artists a chance to show off and sell what they have, and for the community to come together and see all the amazing things downtown,” Widlowski said.
The Octagon Center for the Arts and the Ames History Museum will host several artists on Thursday along with a few kid-friendly activities available as well.
The 2024 list of vendors can be found on the Art Walk website.
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Celia Brocker is a government, crime, political and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached at CBrocker@gannett.com.
