If you caught any of the Festival's revival and return last year at Chelsea Parade then just think bigger, better and lots more and you'll be close to what the organizers have spent months working on for this year's event.
Perhaps you're someone who enjoys pancakes for breakfast and a 5K and 10K road race, with lots of live music and interactive art and community activities throughout the day with a chance to play eighteen holes of miniature golf indoors in the Otis Library.
Where on earth do you think you might find all of that in one place? This is the part of the column where you say the 'Rose Arts Festival, of course!.' (the 'of course!' is optional, but a nice touch.) I think we may have to practice this reader participation stuff but after the Rose Arts Festival is over.
Chelsea Parade will be the center for daytime Rose Arts Festival activities and, ideally, just about the most populous (if not popular) place in the state Saturday starting at half past eight with a fun run (I personally think the phrase is oxymoronic but to each his own) and/or a pancake breakfast (why can't you do both, as long as you're careful jogging with the syrup decanter?).
Both the 5 and 10 K road races follow at eight with a Rose Bud Parade beginning at ten and then hours and hours and hours of music, exhibits, demonstrations, magic show, and art. Speaking of which, there will be all kinds of Creative Station classes, all offered on a first come, first serve basis.
And what's a festival without food, you ask (or should). No worries. There's a food court that'll have a smackeral of just about whatever you have a hankering for with enough variety to satisfy any craving. There's also a culinary competition in the mid-afternoon and I'm starting a rumor that they're looking for volunteer judges (I just always happen to have my own napkins).
There's live music all day from Cowboy and Lady, Ryan Montbleau, Congo Sanchez, and Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds (of whom I am a huge fan). And I've not yet mentioned performances by the Chestnut Street Playhouse Cabaret and the NFA Theater group, well, until just now that is. There will be tours of Teel House and a contest for the Best Dressed Pet.
And as the sun goes down, the Rose Arts Festival moves to Downtown After Dark, with more music in more places than your ears can ever imagine. For anyone who still insists there's nothing going on in downtown, just keep saying that but for the rest of there are live performances on almost every street corner until early Sunday.
If you've been waiting to celebrate the start of summer and the city of Norwich, the Rose Arts Festival this Saturday is your chance to do both. Enjoy!
-bill kenny
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