Partnership Sponsors First Downtown Festival

(Published by Arizona Daily Wildcat on Sept. 7, 2007. The facts aren’t all there, and I was misquoted. The Downtown Tucson Partnership, when it was known as the Tucson Downtown Alliance, was producing events dating back to 2002.)

by Kara Slack

An eclectic sampling of Tucson musicians and art will hit Downtown on Saturday night.

The free event is part of “Downtown Saturdays: Music and Art Festival,” sponsored by the Downtown Tucson Partnership. The festival, located at the Joel D. Valdez Main Library’s Jácome Plaza, 101 N. Stone Ave., will feature some of the best local bands and art organizations.

This is the first festival put on by the partnership, but it’s trying to get it in the regular rotation of events, said Jamie Manser, a DTP marketing and event associate.

“We would like to see the festival happen every month once it gets enough sponsorship,” she said.

The Downtown Tucson Partnership’s goal is to make Downtown business as dynamic as possible through events like the festival, Manser said. It also hopes the festival will bring more life to the area through an influx of people.

“This is an event that highlights the great music in this town and to show off the great Downtown organizations that people might not be aware of,” Manser said.

This month’s lineup for the music portion of the festival includes Salvador Duran, Leila Lopez, Mitzi Cowell, The Swim, Bread and Circus, and Greyhound Soul.

“There is a little bit of everything in the lineup, and it really showcases the versatility of the talent that’s around Tucson,” said singer Lopez.

Also in attendance will be 12 art organizations ranging from the Tucson Museum of Art to The Drawing Studio. Art displays, activities and demonstrations will be on hand.

Bicycle Inter-Community Art & Salvage, a nonprofit organization, will also be showing off unique, funky bicycles. BICAS, 44 W. Sixth St., recycles bikes while promoting education, art and a healthy environment.

BICAS hopes to get people excited about both bikes and Downtown with its participation in the festival, said employee Ignacio Rivera de Rosales.

“The Downtown area has an incredible amount of potential,” he said. “Hopefully the festival will want to make people go down there.”

Food and beverages will be available, along with beer provided by Nimbus Brewing Company. Although there is some construction going on Downtown, take North Stone Avenue to the festival. The Red Line, a shuttle bus, is also available from East University Boulevard and is offering free transport.

The festival runs from 6 p.m. to midnight. Admission is free for the all-ages event.