Summerlin to hold art affair Saturday

Thousands of Las Vegas Valley residents are expected to attend the 18th Summerlin Art Festival this weekend at Summerlin Centre Community Park, 1800 S. Town Center Drive.

The outdoor event features more than 100 local and national artists selling their work, chalk art creations, interactive art projects for children, fruit and ice carving demonstrations, face painters, mascot appearances, live entertainment and a wide variety of food and drink options.

The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and is free and open to the public.

Summerlin's first art festival was hosted in 1993 - just two years after the first family moved into the community.

"A love and appreciation for culture and the arts is deeply rooted in Summerlin," said Tom Warden, senior vice president of community and government relations for The Howard Hughes Corp., developer of Summerlin. "Cultural events and offerings contribute to the abundant lifestyle for which Summerlin is known; it unites like-minded people and fosters creativity. Our annual art festival is a great way to spend the weekend."

Live performances include The Academy of Nevada Ballet Theatre, Las Vegas Philharmonic, Nevada School of the Arts, Jeremy Cornwell, Love Sick Radio, Shauna Tucker, Ben
Harris and MO5AIC.

Artwork available for purchase includes paintings, glasswork, pottery, jewelry, metalwork, sculpture, mixed media and woodcrafts.

Dozens of chalk artists are participating in Summerlin's annual chalk art competition, which literally transforms the park's sidewalks into colorful art masterpieces.

Local artist Donovan Fitzgerald, owner of Fitzgerald Artworks, is the returning featured chalk artist.

Fitzgerald is well-known for his classical reproductions. Those interested in creating their own chalk art can purchase a sidewalk square at the event for $5, which includes chalk and a kneepad.

Summerlin Art Festival is an annual event hosted by Summerlin and The Howard Hughes Corp.

Partners in the 2012 event are CBS Radio, MetroPCS, Findlay Kia, Smile Generation, Orbits/Roseman University and America First Credit Union.

Visit www.summerlinartfestival.com for more information.

Summerlin began to take shape in 1990. For the past two decades, national and regional research firms have ranked it in the country's top 10 best-selling master-planned communities.

Located along the western rim of the Las Vegas Valley, Summerlin encompasses 22,500 acres with about 6,600 acres still remaining to accommodate future growth within the master plan.

The community is currently home to more than 100,000 residents.

Amenities include more than 150 neighborhood and village parks, more than 150 miles of the Summerlin Trail System, 26 public and private schools, 14 houses of worship, nine golf courses, shopping centers, medical and cultural facilities and business parks.

Summerlin also offers more than three dozen actively selling floor plans from various homebuilders.

Homes are available in a variety of styles - from single-family homes to townhomes, condominiums and lofts - priced from the $200,000s to more than $1 million.

Custom-home sites in The Ridges are priced from the high $200,000s.

Luxury apartment homes offer monthly rents starting from the $800s.

For more information about Summerlin, visit www.summerlin.com or www.facebook.com/summerlinlv.