WATERBURY (Sept. 22, 2006) — More than a dozen schools and organizations have already signed up to create their own chalk murals as part of this year’s second annual Downtown Draw family street festival on Saturday, Sept. 30.

This year’s Downtown Draw family street festival will be held on the Waterbury Green, Saturday, Sept. 30, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Last year, more than 180 people participated in drawing chalk murals at the event. To register, call (203) 757-0701, ext. 102, or visit www.mainstreetwaterbury.com.

The free event is modeled after similar festivals in Collinsville, Conn., and Cambridge, Mass., which feature professional artists’ work. Unlike those events, however, Downtown Draw is open to the general public — and children in particular are encouraged to participate.

Last year’s inaugural event ran out of spots in two hours, so organizers have moved it from Leavenworth Street to The Green — and shrunk the chalk murals from 6-by-6-feet to 4-by-5 — in order to accommodate more participants.

If you plan to draw

Organizers of Downtown Draw will provide all the chalk participants need. However, artists may want to consider bringing the following supplies to enhance the creative process:

Whisk broom or brush for cleaning the drawing surface;
Masking tape for creating sharp borders, edges or geometry;
Disposable latex gloves to blend colors with fingers, and for protection;
A piece of cardboard to allow artists to sit or stand on the drawing without disturbing their work;
Chalkboard eraser for blending larger areas of color. It can also be an excellent tool for laying a basic undercoat of color onto which other colors may be applied;
A plastic sheet, felt, and short cut brushes, which can also be used to blend colors;
A towel or paper towels for wiping up;
Artists may want to bring a plastic drop cloth to cover their work temporarily if brief showers are threatened;
A hat or visor and sunscreen for protection from the sun may be helpful if the weather is expected to be warm.

As the name implies, organizers hope the festival will bring not only Waterbury residents and their families to the downtown area, but also introduce the downtown district to residents of the surrounding suburbs who may not be familiar with all it has to offer.

On the day of the event, registered teams with one to five members will create chalk murals along the sidewalks on The Green from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Chalk will be provided for each team, but participants are encouraged to bring their own supplemental supplies. The event will take place rain or shine. In the case of inclement weather, it will be held in the nearby Connecticut Store at 140 Bank Street.

Students in art classes around the region have been invited to take part, as have local non-profit organizations.

More than 60 people from 14 schools and organizations have already signed up. They include teams from: UConn’s Waterbury campus, Waterbury Arts Magnet School, Children’s Community School, Chase Collegiate School, Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters, Maloney Magnet School, North End Middle School and Rotella Magnet School.

Last year, more than 180 people participated in the event. The Waterbury Arts Magnet School won “Best in Show” for the youth category and the Greater Waterbury YMCA won in the adult category. This year, the winning entries will be awarded a 2006 Downtown Draw trophy, as well as additional prizes. There will also be a D.J. on hand, a moonwalk for the kids and food vendors.

Registration is free. To register for the 2nd Annual Downtown Draw, contact Main Street Waterbury at (203) 757-0701, ext. 102. Registration forms are also available online at www.mainstreetwaterbury.com and will be accepted up until the day before the event. Participants can also register the day of the event.

The Downtown Draw is sponsored by Main St. Waterbury, the Northwest Connecticut Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and the Waterbury Regional Chamber.