The city of Fort Wayne recently unveiled the date of the seventh annual downtown festival Open Streets Fort Wayne: noon-4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 18.

This free community event is “people powered” and provides a safe space to bike, walk, and play along more than 20 blocks on Calhoun Street. There will be activities for people of all ages and cultures to enjoy together with games, music, food, and much more planned. 

“Open Streets provides residents and visitors with an opportunity to explore the unique quality of life amenities our community has to offer,” said Mayor Sharon Tucker. 

Each year, Public Works hosts Open Streets to highlight their commitment to active transportation and to showcase the safe accessibility of Fort Wayne’s sidewalks and trails along with pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements.

“We are thrilled that Open Streets is returning for the seventh year to downtown Fort Wayne and the historic Calhoun Street corridor,” Greenways Program Manager Rick Zolman said. “Open Streets is one of Fort Wayne’s most memorable events with more than 20 blocks of activities. It is such a cool opportunity to invite individuals, families, neighbors, and the community together to play in the streets, if only for four hours. We look forward to connecting, by wheel, by heel, by roll, or by stroll, on Sunday, Aug. 18.”

Frida for All festival returns July 13

Frida for All/Frida para Todas is back for a free, family-friendly and accessible celebration open to the public from 1-5 p.m. on Friday, July 13, in the downtown F&M Bank parking lot at 128 W. Wayne St.

The collaboration between Mexica Arts and Creative Women of the World will have Spanish and deaf translators available. 

The event celebrates artist Frida Kahlo’s July 6 birthday and Latin culture, arts, and local community; women in the arts; and artists with physical disabilities. The event includes storytelling about Kahlo, her physical disability and art practice, traditional Mexican paper flower making, collaborative painting, Latina artist and business vendors, local community organization booths, live entertainment, and demonstrations.

Donate art supplies for Artlink fundraiser

Artlink is accepting donations of art supplies through Saturday, July 13, to sell at their third annual Art Supply Resale from July 20-21. 

They are accepting brushes, paints, markers, pens, pencils, canvases, clay, paper, frames, mats, crayons, art books, and anything else creatives might find useful — including used supplies.

Donations can be dropped off during regular business hours on Thursday from 10 a.m.-8 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.  If those times don’t work, you can schedule a drop off time by calling the gallery at (260) 424-7195 or emailing ellen@artlinkfw.org. 

Enter your work to be shown at Honeywell

Honeywell Arts & Entertainment are accepting entries for their 2024 Themed Art Competition: Life on the Farm at the Clark Gallery in Honeywell Center from July 24-Aug. 25.

This competition is open to participants of all ages and will not be judged by category. All media can be entered, including photography, digital art, and sculpture.

Artwork can be dropped off from 11 a.m.-noon and 5-7 p.m. on Monday, July 22. 

Detailed guidelines and the entry form can be found at honeywellarts.org.

Civic Theatre hires education director

Fort Wayne Civic Theatre has named Gavin Thomas Drew their director of education and administration, while he continues to serve as artistic director for Summit City Music Theatre.

Drew is a nationally recognized director, actor, and playwright. 

He attended Oklahoma City University for musical theater and directing, which led him to a regional theater career as a performer and director. 

As a profoundly deaf theater artist with a cochlear implant, Drew takes pride in mentoring disabled and differently abled casts and holding seminars on inclusion and accommodation for all talents. 

He has guest lectured on disability in theatre at the University of Central Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University.

Powers Hamburgers hosts family fun

A fire is not slowing down Powers Hamburgers, 1402 S. Harrison St., as they plan to hold a Family Fun Day on Saturday, July 13, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 

The event closes out their grand re-opening week, and will include face-painting, a petting zoo, special prizes for kids and raffles.

News and Venues covers Northeast Indiana’s music and arts organizations, venues, and colleges, from large to small. Send your news items to info@whatzup.com.