16th Annual Gresham Arts Festival July 14-15

GRESHAM, OR — City officials will host the 16th annual Gresham Arts Festival next weekend, and organizers say this year's will be the biggest yet.

Offering food, music, and hours of free family entertainment, the festival will be held in historic downtown Gresham beginning Friday night, July 14, and continuing all day Saturday, July 15.

Kicking off the festival at 5 p.m. Friday is the Art Under the Stars charitable silent auction, the proceeds for which will be donated to Gresham Outdoor Public Art, officials said. Musical entertainment will be provided by award-winning R&B artist Norman Sylvester. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.

The festival continues Saturday, July 15, beginning with a community invite to the Reclaim the Chalk of Fame Guinness World Record event, which was originally set by the Gresham community in 2015 for creating the largest display of chalk pavement art. The Canadian city of Summerside took the world record and Gresham city officials want it back. So, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the community is once again invited to color 500 chalk drawings designed by local artists and representing themes of Gresham community spirit and Americana, officials said.

Chalk colorers can sign up for a sidewalk square anytime between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the Arts Plaza on Third Street, between Hood and Kelly avenues, or can reserve a block online in advance at www.GreshamOregon.gov/Chalk-of-Fame.

At the same time Saturday, more than 150 artists, a dozen musical acts, and more than 100 restaurants and eateries will provide food, entertainment, and shopping opportunities. Additionally, the community is invited to cool off in the Children's Fountain, explore a fire truck and police car, tackle a sports obstacle course, and enjoy games of ring toss, corn hole, an inflatable slide and more, officials said.

The Gresham's Got Talent show begins at 6:30 p.m., and will feature a variety of local entertainers judged by celebrities Katie Harman (former Miss America 2002), Kirk Mouser (Stumptown Stages producer and Broadway actor), and Haley Green (also a Broadway actor and former Disney Princess).

"There's something for everyone at the Arts Festival," Gresham Mayor Shane Bemis said in a statement. "It's a wonderful way to spend a summer weekend in our charming, thriving downtown. I'll be there and plan to do my part by coloring in some chalk squares so we can steal our world record back from Canada. I invite you to join me."

Parking is available at Gresham City Hall, 1333 N.W. Eastman Parkway, or at the Gresham Transit Station. A free shuttle to the Arts Plaza, courtesy of First Student, will also be available. Additional parking is available at nine city-owned lots in and around downtown. And public transportation is available via TriMet's MAX Blue Line to Gresham Central Transit Center.

For more information, visit www.GreshamOregon.gov/Gresham-Arts-Festival.

Image: City of Gresham