With Cancellation of 2016 SoNo Arts Celebration, Norwalk Arts: INside/Out Seeks to Fill Void

Norwalk, CT - Organizers of the annual SoNo Arts Celebration have cancelled this year's event, typically held in early August, due to a lack of time to pull it all together.

Kevin Bowler, president of the SoNo Arts Celebration, Inc., told the Stamford Advocate that the nonprofit group had funding, interest and volunteers to stage it this year. But the logistics are difficult to organize and officials did not "get the ball rolling in time."

Held in South Norwalk since the 1970s, the celebration had grown from encompassing a portion of one street to a several-block extravaganza with multiple music acts, a sculpture race dozens of artists, which attracted tens of thousands of people over the weekend.

This year would have been the 40th annual celebration, which the event's website proudly proclaimed. Bowler believes the event will be held in 2017, marking the 40th edition, just not the 40th annual.

News of the cancellation set off expressions of disappointment and sadness by many, but the Greater Norwalk Arts Council, another nonprofit arts organization, is stepping up to host an arts event in August called Norwalk Arts: INside/Out.

"Norwalk Arts: INside/Out will be a two day event August 5-6 presenting 'Open Studios' and public exhibits celebrating the Norwalk Arts Community," organizers wrote on the council's website.

Click here to read the full story on the Stamford Advocate website.

Photo: SoNo Arts Celebration