The Museum Center at Five Points is busy preparing for this summer’s Five Points Arts Festival set for July 27, 28 and 29 in downtown Cleveland.

The festival will boast three dozen artists, and will include a host of activities and events for families and art lovers alike.

A Friday evening Preview Party will kick off the weekend for a $10 charge, with museum members attending for free. Themed “Timeless Appalachia,” the party is being hosted by the Museum Guild.

The opportunity to get some early bird shopping done will be accompanied by live music by hammered dulcimer musician Agene Parsons, plus there will be Southern-themed appetizers and “spirits,” and a chance to bid on a rare, out of print book on the history of Cleveland.

Special guests Don Dudenbostel and Tom Jester, creators of photo exhibit, “Vanishing Appalachia,” will be on hand to sign copies of their books, and share their favorite “Timeless Appalachian” traditions.

Talented Museum Gallery artists will be hosting their own booths inside the museum from Friday evening until Sunday afternoon at 5 p.m.

Art and fine crafts from the talented group include painters, jewelers, carvers and wood turners, metal and glass sculptors, photographers and more. The Museum’s 1924 American LaFrance Fire Truck will be on display all weekend on Inman Street.

Saturday at 9 a.m. the festivities will begin at First Street Square with an ART IS FUN tent co-sponsored by CYAN (Cleveland Youth Arts Initiative) which will offer free make-n-take art projects for children.

Live music will be performed on the stage, along with food vendors, while First Street Square merchants will have special offerings. There will also be lawn games and a sidewalk chalk art competition.

Museum Store artists will be showing their wares all day, and when the 1st Street Square merriment winds down, from 3 until 6 p.m.

Sunday’s events will begin at 11 a.m in the Museum’s courtyard. The public is invited to “Catch-A-Bite” at the (moderately priced) Sunday Brunch, offered by Catch Bar & Grill. There will be more make-n-take art projects, lawn games, and sidewalk chalk art competitions, until 2 p.m, while indoors, the artists will be on hand from 11 until 5 p.m.

“The Five Points Arts Festival will provide an opportunity to experience the joy of art — in many forms — with people of all ages,” said festival coordinator Tracy O’Connell of the Museum Center.

“We hope this fun-filled, entertaining weekend will turn into an annual event.”

Friday

5-8 p.m.

Members Preview Party: “Timeless Appalachia”

• Opportunity to win rare copy of historic book: “Reflections of Past & Present – Bradley County 1836 – 1991” by William Snell

• Nibbles & drinks

• Museum store artists

• Hammered dulcimer artist Agene Parsons, playing and selling CDs

• The 1922 Antique Firetruck on display at Museum Center

Saturday First Street Square

9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• “Art Is Fun” in First Street Square. Make-n-take art projects; music; food vendors; lawn games; sidewalk chalk art

• Food vendors

• Sidewalk sales — First Street Square stores

• Door prizes from stage every hour

• Music on the First Street Square Stage — provided by Agene Parsons (hammered dulcimer) and Cleveland Community Concert Jazz Band

Museum Center

at Five Points

10 a.m. to 6 p.m

• More than 50 artists at Museum Center

• 1922 Antique Firetruck on display at Museum Center

• Museum’s River of Time exhibit open all day

Sunday

Museum Center

at Five Points

11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• “Catch a Bite” Sunday Brunch in Courtyard (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

• Music performed by mountain dulcimer artist Agene Parsons

• Lawn games; sidewalk chalk art; make-n-take art projects; Courtyard (11 a.m. to 3 p..m)

• More than 50 artists at Museum Center

• 1922 Antique Firetruck on display at Museum Center

• Museum’s River of Time exhibit open all day

The Museum Center is open Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The museum is closed Sundays, Mondays and holidays. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and students, and free for children under 5. Groups of 12 or more are $4 each.

The museum is free the first Saturday of every month. Members of the Museum Center receive free admission.

For further information, call 339-5745 or visit www.MuseumCenter.org.



Jan Cheek, Tracy O’Connell, Carolyn Jackson, Linda Andrews, Judy Pickle, Joan McIlrath, Donna Gaines, Elizabeth Carriger, Delespi Realmuto, and Jan Neyman gather to make plans for the Five Points Arts Festival. Sponsor for the festival is Don Ledford Automotive.