Downtown Venice Art Festival Kicks Off Holiday Shopping, 11/2

What: 26th Annual Downtown Venice Art Festival

When: November 2 & 3, Saturday & Sunday, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Where: West Venice Avenue in Downtown Venice

Navigational Address: 219 W. Venice Avenue, Venice, FL 34285

Why: To Support the Arts, Venice Main Street and the Local Economy

Admission: Free and open to the public

Website: www.artfestival.com

Contact Information: info@artfestival.com or 561-746-6155

Historic Downtown Venice welcomes the finest artists in the country November 2 - 3, 2013 with the return of the Downtown Venice Art Festival. This gallery style two-day juried show will feature an eclectic array of original handmade art at prices set to suit all budgets. Holiday shoppers looking for unique gifts will have a wide variety of items to choose from while strolling through this wonderful outdoor setting, a welcome contrast to crowded malls this holiday season. The festival benefits Venice Main Street, dedicated to preserving and maintaining downtown Venice as a desirable destination. Admission is free and open to the public.

Festival promoter Howard Alan Events has produced this art affair for the past 26 years introducing residents and tourists who flock to Venice and the surrounding areas to leading artists from around the country while showcasing the finest local and regional artists the state has to offer. This highly regarded promoter produces numerous shows on Florida's west coast including the popular Downtown Venice Art Classic each March as well as the Downtown Sarasota Festival of the Arts, St. Armands Circle Art Festival, Hyde Park Village Art Fair in Tampa and many more. The Downtown Venice Art Festival has expanded through the years with the community's support and has become a highly anticipated annual tradition in Venice.

"This festival is popular among patrons and artists alike because of the wide variety of original works of art we showcase," says festival promoter Howard Alan. "You can expect to see practically every artistic medium and a truly eclectic group of exhibitors."

The artists, juried by an independent panel of expert judges, and hand-selected from hundreds of applicants based on quality and diversity, will be present for the duration of the festival. All of the artwork is original and handmade in America and will be on display along the tree-lined streets of this popular downtown area.

An Art Giveaway will provide festival patrons an opportunity to win artwork by award-winning watercolorist Christine Reichow. The prize, a 33" x 40" framed Giclée signed and numbered reproduction of "Pelican Perching", valued at $450.00, will be on display at Christine's booth all weekend where registration will take place. Christine skillfully captures the essence and wonder of Florida's landscapes in her watercolor paintings, effectively conveying her passion for nature with each stroke. Her work has graced the pages of many prestigious publications and can be seen in private collections across the country. Additional information and a gallery of her work can be found on her website, www.christinereichow.com. The winner of the giveaway will be announced at 4:00 pm on Sunday, during the final day of the art show. No purchase is necessary to participate.

At-A-Glance:

Juried outdoor art showcase
Original Art - Handmade in America
150 artists from 30 different states
Prices set to suit all budgets - ranging from as little as $25 to $30,000
Artists hand-selected by independent panel of expert judges from hundreds of applicants
All artists on site for duration of festival
Vast array of artistic media including paintings, sculptures, photography, ceramics, glass, wood, handmade jewelry, collage, mixed media

The festival benefits Venice Main Street, dedicated to preserving and maintaining downtown Venice as a desirable destination.

About Howard Alan Events, Ltd.:
Howard Alan Events, a Florida-based company, develops and presents art and craft shows throughout the country. For the past 25 years, Howard Alan Events has produced some of the nation's finest juried art shows, including more than 40 venues each year such as the Downtown Aspen Art Festival (Aspen, CO), Beaver Creek Art Festival (Beaver Creek, CO), Chicago Tribune North Michigan Avenue Art Festival (Chicago, IL), and the Las Olas Art Fairs, (Fort Lauderdale, FL). Several shows are ranked in the top 100 art fairs in the country by Sunshine Artist magazine.

For additional information on the 26th Annual Downtown Venice Art Festival and other Howard Alan Events art and craft shows across the country, visit www.artfestival.com or call 561-746-6615.

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