North Florida’s art scene swings into high gear on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the highly acclaimed 38th Annual Downtown Festival & Art Show. The streets of historic downtown Gainesville, from City Hall to the Hippodrome State Theatre will be transformed into a celebration of art and creativity complete with live music, performing arts and a spectacular array of food. More than 80,000 art lovers will fill the streets to enjoy and purchase one-of-a-kind artwork. The festival features 240 local and national artists displaying original oils and acrylics, vibrant watercolors, unique sculptures, dazzling jewelry, decorative ceramics and vivid photography. Children can create their own art at the Imagination Station, a free hands-on art activity area including sidewalk-chalk drawing, painting, mask design, puppet creation, clay sculpting and interactive entertainment. For music lovers enjoy continuous, live entertainment on four stages by local bands, solo musicians and dance companies.

The soulful sound of blues will usher in the Downtown Festival & Art Show weekend with a free Downtown Blues Concert on Friday Nov. 15 from 7 to 11 p.m. at Bo Diddley Plaza. This concert will feature three performances produced by the North Florida Blues Society.