Sunday October 2nd is the Grand Finale of Downtown Annapolis Street Festivals for the 2011 season with the First Sunday Arts Oktoberfest Festival. As usual Calvert and West Streets in downtown Annapolis will be filled with over 100 local and regional artists and crafters selling everything handcrafted you can imagine from wheel thrown pottery, hand-blown glass, wood turned bowls, handcrafted jewelery, photography, paintings and more. The galleries of West Street will also be opening their fall exhibits of local artists during the festival. Plus the international cafes and food vendors are ready to give you your first fall taste of Oktoberfest delights including funnel cakes, and knock wursts and the resturants back patios will serve as your beer garden as you enjoy seasonal fall harvest beers. These are just some of the popular flavors you will also find at this fun fall street festival on Calvert and West streets
The festival is also packed with a wide variety of free top notch entertainment that will bring out thousands of locals to enjoy the day in downtown Annapolis. The day starts at noon at the Long and Foster Stage near the Annapolis Visitors Center on West Street with the Annapolis Dixieland Band playing fun traditional New Orleans Dixieland music. They will be followed by The Basement Band starting at 3:30pm with their tribute to the music of Bob Dylan and The Band.
The performance area between Stan and Joe’s and Back Creek Books will be hosting Chris Clark Bicycle Stunt Show at 1:45 and 3pm. Over the past decade Chris has performed at Times Square in NYC, The Gravity Games, NFL Games, The Olympic Games and at over 40 venues on the Vans Warped Tour, entertaining thousands of fans. The show is a breathtaking display of balance and agility as Clark maneuvers his bike and body over his custom built ramps and obstacles. Once you see this performance you will have a renewed appreciate for this extreme sport. Chris Clark will be available for autographs after the shows.
Whitemore Park on Calvert street will be hosting 2 of the biggest performances of the day. Starting at 2pm the Gotta Swing dancers being lead by the Craig Sparks Swingtet take to the stage. For all those that enjoying watching swing dancing on the popular Dancing with the Stars television show, here is your chance to see this fun and energetic dance style in person. There will also be a free public mini dance lesson to those that want to get a taste of swing dancing. For those that already enjoy swing dancing you are invited to join in the fun with the public swing dancing session sponsored by gottaswing.com
The grand finale of the day starts at 4pm at Whitemore Park with the fabulous Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble. They perform a uniquely American story: an exuberant fusion of live music, comedy, singing, and a dazzling array of percussive dance forms rooted in different cultures. Since 1979, Footworks has represented American culture internationally, including a Smithsonian Institution tour of Japan, and as guest artists with Riverdance in London. This high energy performance will leave you breathless and craving all winter for the return of next years First Sunday Arts Festivals.
As always friendly pets are welcome and there is plenty of free parking for those attending First Sunday Arts about 2 blocks from the festival at the State Parking Garage on the corner of Calvert and Bladen Streets and low cost parking at the 2 garages at the festival on Calvert Street. We suggest that you arrive early and early and enjoy the Sunday Morning Festival Brunches at Rams Head Tavern, Stan and Joe’s Saloon and 49 West Coffehouse. For directions and additional information on the festival the website is www.firstsundayarts.com or visit them on Facebook.
