Port Clinton Art Festival

PORT CLINTON ART FESTIVAL CELEBRATES 24 YEARS OF FINE ART

AND ADDS FIRST-EVER TASTE OF HIGHLAND PARK EVENT

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Nation’s #3 ranked art festival features young talent in the much-loved

Youth Art Division

CHICAGO, IL – August 9, 2007 -- The acclaimed Port Clinton Art Festival marks its 24^th season this year. Heralded by many as one of the best art festivals in the United States, this show was recently ranked number 3 from over 10,000 art festivals around the nation by Sunshine Artist magazine. Over 275,000 visitors regularly fill the plazas, sidewalks, and picturesque streets to purchase work from 260 world-class juried artists.

The free art festival, open Saturday and Sunday, August 25 and 26 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., is the only Amdur Productions’ event that features a Youth Art Division, and that part of the festival has been a favorite since its inception. Young artists aged 6 – 18 have been invited to participate and many donate the proceeds to charity. The art action centers along Central Avenue at the intersections of First and Second Streets in Highland Park for the free event.

An especially exciting addition to this year’s event is the inaugural “Taste of Highland Park.” Located on the upper deck of the First Street parking structure between Central and Laurel Avenues in downtown Highland Park, the Taste of Highland Park will be open from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Port Clinton Art Fest Highlights

260 artists from around the world PLUS a crowd-pleasing Youth Art Division

Art Festival Entertainment and Glass Blowing Demonstrations

On Saturday from 1 – 3 p.m., Greg Diethrich, executive director of the Highland Park Music Arts School, will lead an interactive, world percussion drum circle from 1-3 on Saturday
The A.J. Kluth Jazz Quintet will provide exceptional entertainment for the Taste of Highland Park on Saturday evening from 6 – 9 p.m. at the band stage near the Palette Café. The quintet includes A.J. Kluth, saxophone; Nick Ascher, guitar; Brett Rowe, piano; Cory Biggerstaff, bass; and Stefan Czestochowski, drums. Kluth and Czestochowski are both faculty members at Music Arts School.
On Saturday night from 7:30 – 8:30 p.m., Jonas Gerard will thrill crowds as he paints to music live during the Taste of Highland Park

Throughout the festival:

Daily live art demonstration include glass blowing demonstrations by Daniel M. Marder of Making Glass LLC studio and gallery and many artists at their booths

Free kids’ activities include Art Fest Bingo and Paint-A-Car
Continuous live music will include Cirrus Falcon’s acoustic rock, the smooth jazz of the Showtyme Jazz Duo, harpist Arrian Lydon
A vibrant selection of original paintings, photography, furniture, sculpture, jewelry, glass and more fill the neatly arranged white tents

Taste of Highland Park Highlights

Area establishments participating in this year’s kick-off event include Café Central, Einstein’s Bagels, Jamba Juice, Blue Grass, La Casa Del Gordo, New York Slices, Once Upon a Bagel, Sunset Foods, Lincolnshire Gourmet Sam’s, Jade, Lou Malnati’s, and The BBQ Pit. Sam’s Wines & Spirits will feature Robert Mondavi Private Selection wines in a special addition to this year’s event. Each vendor offers both food and beverages treats and a sampling of those are listed below:

Find pizza and more with Lou Malnati’s and New York Slices
Café Central adds French flair with its salad Nicoise and chilled gazpacho, and fun with delicious cupcakes plus a selection of wines and beer
Bluegrass serves up it’s famed garlic pasta and chicken & sausage jabalaya and a signature Bluegrass Martini
Cosi offers Tuscan pesto chicken, turkey delite, and grilled chicken specialties along with beer, wine and water
Head south of the border with tempting quesadillas, taquitos, scallops in avocado and margaritas from La Casa Del Gordo
The BBQ Pit features some of its best ribs, BBA chicken and BBQ turkey drumsticks for hearty eaters, and a Greek salad for light bites.
At the Lincolnshire Gourmet booth, expect to find unique selections including a chicken and brie wrap, Israeli couscous, a Meditteranean salad, and slices of tres leches cake
Once Upon a Bagel offers yet another tasty alternative with Italian sausage, steak sandwich, tuna roll ups, and of course, bagels and cream cheese

The free weekend event promises to offer residents and visitors alike a unique, memorable weekend. Plenty of free parking is available in downtown Highland Park, with additional remote parking served by a complimentary shuttle available at the Ravinia commuter lot (St. John’s and Roger Williams Avenue). Alternatively, take the Metra straight to downtown Highland Park Station.

For more information, visit www.amdurproductions.com or call 847-926-4300.