DENVER -- ABC 7 is proud to sponsor the 19th Annual Cherry Creek Arts Festival.

As Colorado's signature cultural event, the Cherry Creek Arts Festival is one of the nation’s most competitive outdoor juried arts festivals. The Arts Festival boasts the rare opportunity for visitors to meet and talk with exhibiting artists, sample fine cuisine, visit special exhibits and create their own works of art. This world-class and award-winning celebration of the visual, culinary and performing arts is FREE and open to the public.

Artistic categories include ceramics, digital art, drawing, fiber, glass, graphics and printmaking, jewelry, metalwork, mixed media, painting, photography, sculpture, and wood. The Arts Festival also offers artists demonstrations, the Art Auction, Artivity Avenue for families and an award winning volunteer program. Arts in Action, the Arts Festival's year-round arts and education program currently serve over 12,000 youth in the Denver metropolitan area.

When is the Arts Festival?

Thursday, July 2: 7pm - 10pm: FREE Artists Preview Event on Clayton St.
Friday, July 3: 10am - 8pm: Festival Nights 8 pm - 10 pm
Saturday, July 4: 10am - 8pm: Festival Nights 8 pm - 10pm
Sunday, July 5: 10am - 6pm: Handicap Accessibility from 9 am - 10am*

*CCAF is fully accessible during all hours to disabled visitors and senior citizens, but this time is specifically designated for individuals with mobility concerns.

Where is the Arts Festival?

The Arts Festival is located in Denver's Cherry Creek North Shopping District, on 2nd and 3rd Avenues, on the six streets between Clayton and Steele Streets.

Volunteers Wanted

Wanted: Over 1,200 generous individuals who want to have fun while making the Cherry Creek Arts Festival this summer's most successful event. We invite you to be part of Denver's 7 Volunteer Program. In exchange for your valuable time and skills, you’ll meet new people and support one of our nation's most highly acclaimed outdoor arts festival. For more information, go to CherryArts.org

What's New at the Festival

New visual artists For 2009, there are 235 juried artists and 8 “Emerging Artists,” of whom 23 are from Colorado. Nearly 70% (162 artists) are new for the 2009 show, including 75 first-time CCAF exhibitors and 87 artists who had exhibited in 2007 or prior!

The Student Art Buying Program Helps to bring art to Colorado schools and communities. In partnership with the CCAF, Janus Capital Group Inc. (Janus) is working to expand their award-winning Janus Student Art Buying Program to expose school children to the visual arts across the state. You, too, can help by casting your vote for the artist you'd like to see featured in this year's Mobile Art Gallery. Voting deadline is June 30, 2009, so vote today at CherryArts.org.

The CCAF is Going Green As part of the CCAF's continued commitment to the environment we have partnered up with Aquafina to enhance our recycling program by offering increased number of recycling stations conveniently placed throughout the festival grounds. Additionally, our Festival Volunteer Training Program will offer virtual training in an effort to become Greener.

"Together through Art" Community Outreach In the true spirit of the festival theme of "Together through Art" and our goal to make art accessible to all, the CCAF is reaching out to Denver's Latino community. In partnership with Azteca America Colorado, our Ambassador Stations will now provide Spanish festival guides. For the first time ever, our promotional ads as well as online festival information will be available in Spanish. To top it all off, our programming will feature live performances by the Latin Jazz sensation, Manuel Molina.

Bring out the Eco-Artist in You Pepsi is giving you the chance to express your love for the planet at the CCAF! Join in the fun as you and your family help us paint the specially stenciled Pepsi Truck right on Artivity Avenue. The finished truck will then go on a year-long tour sporting its cool new look! Experience this unique combination of art and recycling, only at the Cherry Creek Arts Festival!

Relaxation Stations At the CCAF, we are committed to the best patron experiences possible. Joining our festival amenities this year are our new Relaxation Stations, presented by American Furniture Warehouse. Relax in comfort and style in our shaded Relaxation Stations found throughout the event!

The Cherry Creek Arts Festival is now on Facebook With Podcast uploads, information about festival artists and performances, and other updates, it is now easier than ever to stay informed. Become a fan of the Cherry Creek Arts Festival at www.facebook.com today!

Freshies Cocktail Cabana Located on Fillmore Plaza near the Janus Main Stage, the Cabana is a place where patrons can enjoy refreshingly delicious cocktails and exciting performances!

Kulinary Kidz An all-new food court just for kids and the kid in all of us! Enjoy smaller-sized and family-oriented meals and snacks. In addition to Pepsi products, the CCAF refreshment stations will also feature ice cream treats and snow cones!

Back from Last Year:

5th Annual Opening Gala on Thursday, July 2, from 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Emceed by 7NEWS Anchor Bertha Lynn, this is an exclusive opportunity to preview and purchase art, and to enjoy exquisite cuisine and world-class entertainment. The Gala will feature 27 juried artists and be the first buying opportunity of the event. Tickets: $150 each -- includes gourmet seated dinner, a private art buying opportunity and Festival Patron VIP benefits. For tickets visit: CherryArts.org.

Artivity Avenue A full block of interactive art activities and entertainment designed just for kids and their families! Features include the Comcast Cable Creation Station, Dream Big Mosaic, and much, much more! NEW this year: “Bring out the Eco-Artist in you” and help us paint the stenciled Pepsi Truck!

Five stages provide non-stop entertainment on each day of the festival including the ever-popular Janus Main Stage, Heineken Beer Garden Stage and Cru Vin Dogs Wine Group Wine Pavilion Jazz Stage.

"Festival Nights" The Festival continues into the night on Fillmore Plaza Friday and Saturday nights from 8:00pm to 10:00pm on the Janus Main Stage. The sun goes down and the fun turns up with Festival Nights!

Artist Demo Stage The Cherry Creek Arts Festival offers an intimate look into the working artist's studio by providing live demonstrations and lectures by over a dozen artisans. This becomes a wonderful opportunity for guests to interact directly with the exhibiting artists.

Culinary Demonstration Stage The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Colorado presents the Culinary Demonstration Stage with the kitchen provided by Viking. Join us near 2nd Avenue and Clayton Street as we celebrate Culinary Art with exciting, entertaining and informative chef demonstrations multiple times each day of the festival. From raw materials to finished culinary creations, experience the art of cooking and best of all the art of tasting! Visit the Culinary Demonstration Stage for schedules. To watch one of the featured dishes being made and get the recipe, click here.

FREE CCAF Podcasts provide previews of this year's festival features, artists and their works. Watch, listen and subscribe to these podcasts as there is no need for an iPod—you can watch our video broadcasts right on your desktop or get it in your emails. BurstMarketing Podcasting is a fun new way to get the latest about the Festival!

Artist Preview Event Get a sneak-peek at 27 of the 235 artists the night before the Festival opens. This FREE event is on Thursday, July 2nd from 7pm to 10pm on Clayton Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues. It’s a great way to enjoy the Arts Festival without the summer heat and crowds, as you stroll down the street at your leisure.

Culinary Avenue Over 20 of Denver’s finest restaurants will present culinary delights from around the world. All culinary vendors are required to have items priced at and below $8.00 to ensure that food is affordable for all! To check out some of the offerings click here.

CCAF's year-round art education and outreach programs occur all year long. Community members are encouraged to buy art and help support these programs at the Cherry Creek Shopping Center Art Auction! For your convenience, we have put our art auction gallery online so you can shop for amazing artworks right from your home computer. During the Festival, stop by our on-site auction tent on St. Paul St. to see your favorites in person and make a bid! The website opens June 30th and will be available through July 5th with staggered closings. Visit our online art auction at www.CherryArtsAuction.org. This is truly the best-kept-secret way to find great buys and to see all CCAF artists in one place.

Festival Nights Live Music on Fillmore Plaza Friday and Saturday nights from 8pm to 10pm with special performances.

Friday, July 3rd, 8 pm: Chase N the Dream
"Chase not only has a powerful, velvety voice, he has a stage presence that is engaging. He has that energy that makes you want to get up out of your chair and dance and move to the rhythm of the music."

Saturday, July 4th, 8 pm: The Receders
Playing the Denver music scene for over 18 years, this group is described as "self indulgent-in your face-funkin grooving." The funk is un-deniable -- a good time is un-avoidable."