Orange Line Gallery ArtsWeek combines the AmeriCU 40th Annual Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival, the popular Northeast Jazz and Wine Festival and the Blue Rain ECOfest with more than 20 interactive arts activities that are sure to bring out the creativity in everyone who visits. An arts walk links the two festivals from Columbus Circle to Clinton Square.  

Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival. A spectacular three-day showcase of the country’s most talented artists, craftspeople and entertainers centered around historic Columbus Circle in downtown Syracuse. The expanded show features 26 more artists than last year representing 27 states and Canada. The event features contemporary arts and crafts, ranging from functional to decorative, a wide variety of music, multicultural performances, summer refreshments and participatory activities. Visit www.syracuseartsandcraftsfestival.com for more information. Friday, July 30, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, July 31, and Sunday, Aug. 1, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.   

Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival. A three-day event that includes three outdoor stages, strolling musicians, open on-stage master classes and clinics with student groups by guest artists, and downtown nightclub jams mixing touring musicians with local and regional talent. Visit www.nejazzwinefest.org for more information. Clinton Square and Hanover Square. Thursday, July 29, and Friday, July 30, 5 to 11 p.m.; Saturday, July 31, noon to 11 p.m. Jams until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Syracuse New Times 20th Annual Street Painting Festival. A sidewalk art contest where artists create masterpieces in chalk on the 200 block of Montgomery Street from the Hills Building to City Hall, over to L’Adour Restaurant. The contest is open to 125 artists. Each entrant receives an assortment of colored chalk at registration, but is encouraged to bring his or her own as well. Award categories include best original, best “copy of a master,” best teen work, best youth work and people’s choice award. Preregistration is recommended; call 422-7011. Visit www.syracusenewtimes.com for more information. Saturday, July 31, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.  

Blue Rain ECOfest. The first and only urban multi-day environmental outreach festival in Central New York, its goal is to educate families about their responsibility for the planet, and how they can learn to help. An eclectic, family-oriented lineup of live music and dance is presented throughout the event. It is supported by National Grid, Save The Rain, the Center of Excellence, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and others. Exhibitors of all kinds attend, from individual entrepreneurs and inventors to large institutions. Visit www.bluerainecofest.org for more information. Hanover Square, Friday, July 30, 5 to 10 p.m.; Saturday, July 31, noon to 10 p.m.

Orange Line Gallery Reception: The Art of ArtsWeek. Artwork will be displayed and appetizers served courtesy of Dolce Vita World Bistro, Gentile’s Restaurant and L’Adour Restaurant Francais. Guests will be encouraged to participate in hands-on activities of face painting and mask making, then dance to the music at the “Mask-A-Raid Ball” included as part of the festivities. This event is free, open to the public and marks Orange Line Gallery’s return in their new location, 106 Montgomery St. More information available by calling (877) 588-5005. Saturday, July 31, 5 to 10 p.m.

Everson Museum of Art. Design and create your own candy furniture using the designs of Herman Miller as inspiration. Visit www.everson.org for more information on the exhibit. City Hall Commons, 201 E. Washington St. Saturday, July 31, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Urban Video Project (UVP). High-definition projections of video, photography, animation, poetry, movies and performances at three downtown venues from dusk to 11 p.m. Visit www.urbanvideoproject.com for more information.

Seek Syracuse. Come view the results of the city’s first such photography competition. Seek Syracuse is a participatory public art project that invited people to find and photograph the letters that spell “SYRACUSE” found on historic buildings downtown. Visit www.syracuse.ny.us for more information. City Hall Commons, 201 E. Washington St. Saturday July 31, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

One Wish: A Community Art Project. Members of the community will create a series of art pieces by expressing what each person truly desires. These panels will be free-standing wooden canvases for the public to turn their wishes into visual art. Columbus Circle, Friday, July 30, and Sunday, Aug. 1; City Hall Commons, 201 E. Washington St. Saturday, July 31. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tell us “What Hooks You Here.” Visitors will be invited to visually depict what brought them to Central New York and what keeps them here. Visit www.commercialartsupply.com for more information on the Art Store, 935 Erie Blvd. E. Columbus Circle, Friday, July 30, and Saturday, July 31, 10 am to 6 pm. Sunday, Aug. 1, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Th3 & The CNY Arts Covenant. Supporters of the arts sign up for the Arts Covenant with their creatively painted handprint on a one-of-a-kind Arts Covenant Quilt that becomes a piece of public art displayed throughout the community. Also, create an Arts Covenant pennant/flag for gardens/porches and take it home. Visit http://th3syracuse.com for more information. Columbus Circle, Friday, July 30, and Sunday, Aug. 1, noon to 5 p.m.; City Hall Commons, 201 E. Washington St. Saturday, July 31, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Plymouth Church. All are invited, especially families with children, to create an artistic greeting to children hospitalized in Baghdad, Iraq. Visit http://plymouthucc syracuse.org for more information. Plymouth Church, 232 E. Onondaga St., Saturday, July 31, and Sunday, Aug. 1, 12:30-3:30 p.m.

The Downtown Writer’s Center at the YMCA. The Writer’s Center will have some fun with takeaway activities like magnetic and collage poetry and have a schedule of events happening inside the center: Book signings by local writers and free, quick workshops on found poetry, poetry collage, writing and family storytelling. Visit www.ymcaofgreat ersyracuse.org/arts/ for more information. Downtown Writer’s Center, 340 Montgomery St. Friday, July 30, through Sunday, Aug. 1, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Media Unit Dancestravaganza. Features ballet, hip-hop, jazz, modern dance, step dancing, African and Middle Eastern. City Hall Commons, 201 E. Washington St. Saturday, July 31, noon to 5 p.m.

Media Unit Monster Sale. The region’s largest annual used book and vinyl sale outside the Media Unit’s studio at 327 Montgomery St. Browse used books at bargain prices and interact with Wizard of Oz characters. Friday, July 30, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, July 31, and Sunday, Aug. 1, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

40 Below’s Public Arts Task Force mp3 Experiment. A public performance involving participants who will download a prerecorded mp3 file onto their personal music player, wait for the signal and start listening to the mp3 at the exact same time. To look at pictures from last year’s experiment, check out http://syracusemp3experiment.blogspot.com. Columbus Circle, Saturday, July 31, 4 p.m.

40 Below’s Public Arts Task Force ArtStrong. 40 Below is transforming a vacant storefront into a pop-up art gallery featuring more than 20 located artists. The gallery space, at 451 S. Warren St., will be up for the rest of ArtsWeek, through Sunday, Aug. 1.

40 Below’s Public Arts Task Force Five & Dime Party. The ArtStrong show will be converted into a party for the evening as donated artwork will be sold for $10, with 100 percent of the proceeds to benefit the Public Arts Task Force. 451 S. Warren St., Thursday, July 29, 5 to 8 p.m.

Erie Canal Museum. Come make your own paper bag mule puppet as you learn about life on the Erie Canal. Visit www.eriecanalmuseum.org for more information about the museum. City Hall Commons, 201 E. Washington St. Friday, July 30, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Onondaga Historical Association (OHA). This museum will host the artists, wares and performances of the Native American Circle of Life. Visit www.cnyhistory.org for more information. OHA, 321 Montgomery St., Friday, July 30, and Saturday, July 31, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday, Aug. 1, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“Clinton Serenade” Mural. Watch Corky Goss and Chip Miller, of Art in Public Places, as they complete a 4,000-square-foot mural depicting the Erie Canal. 126 N. Salina St. Date and time to be announced.

Family Friendzy. Presented by the Syracuse Department of Parks, Recreation & Youth Programs, this event features multicultural live entertainment and lots of hands-on arts activities full of family fun. Visit www.syracuse.ny.us for more information. Clinton Square, Aug. 7, noon to 5 p.m.

Candlelight Series. The Syracuse Opera performs outdoors at the corner of West Jefferson and Franklin streets. Visit www.armorysq.org/candlelight for more information. Presented by the Armory Square Association. Armory Square, Aug. 7, 8 p.m.

Fayette Park Summer Music Series. The Syracuse Parks & Recreation All-Star Band will perform. Presented by the Downtown East Business Association. Fayette Firefighters Memorial Park, East Genesee, East Fayette and South State streets. Thursday, July 29, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Onondaga County Public Library. Create a personalized Jamaican woven fish using colorful strips of paper or decorate a paper flying fish. Visit www.onlib.org for more information. City Hall Commons, 201 E. Washington St. Saturday, July 31, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Art Store Artist Demonstrations. On Sunday morning there will be a judging, based on posted criteria and at 1 p.m. Sunday, the winners of the categories will be announced, with prizes and gift cards given out. Visit www.commercialartsupply.com for more information about the Art Store. Columbus Circle, Friday, July 30, through Sunday, Aug. 1.

• Friday

11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Sharon Blair, PanPastels

2-4 p.m.

Robin Winsor, Hand Building Clay

All Day Friday

David Clark, Learning Center

Attending all Three Days of the Festival

Tom Huff, Stone Carving

• Saturday 

10 a.m.-noon

Sharon Blair, Mixed Media

1-4 p.m.

Robin Winsor, Hand Building Clay

All Day Saturday

Sandy Fiormonti, Liverpool Art Center

• Sunday 

11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Sharon Blair, PanPastels

2-4 p.m.

Sharon Blair, Plein Air Painting 

All Day Sunday

Robin Winsor, Tie Dyeing

Syracuse University Bookstore Book Fair The literary and creative talents of local and regional authors and illustrators will be showcased. Many authors will be on hand to discuss and personally autograph their books. In conjunction with Allie Larkin’s appearance at the Book Fair, human and dog representatives from the German Shepherd Rescue of Central New York will be at the Bookstore tent on Saturday, July 31, 1 to 5 p.m. Visit http://bookstore.syr.edu for more information about the Syracuse University Bookstore. Columbus Circle, Friday, July 30, through Sunday, Aug. 1, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Book Fair Authors:

Children’s Books

Graphic Novels: Frank Cammuso, Douglas Brode; Puzzles: David Kalvitis; Illustrator: London Ladd 

Fiction: Elizabeth Brundage, Matthew Dunn, Shane Durgee, James Howard Kunstler, Allie Larkin 

Local Interest: Harvey Kaiser, Linda Kaiser, Jim Kraus, Roger Lucas, Sue Ellen McManus 

Memoir: Sonja Livingston 

Nature and Environment: Donald Leopold, Tim Starmer 

Nonfiction/Military: Benjamin Tupper; Nonfiction/Reference: Matthew Frederick 

Poetry: Marvin Druger 

Sports: Sean Kirst, Mike Waters

ArtsWeek is the result of a partnership with many area organizations, including:

The Downtown Committee of Syracuse

The Orange Line Gallery

The City of Syracuse Public Arts Commission

AmeriCU Credit Union

CNY Jazz Arts Foundation

The Everson Museum of Art

The Erie Canal Museum

The City of Syracuse

The Onondaga Historical Museum

Syracuse University

The Arts Covenant

The Downtown Writer’s Center

Th3

Commercial Art Supply

The Media Unit

40 Below Public Arts Task Force

The Syracuse New Times

Plymouth Congregational Church

The Downtown East Business Association

The Armory Square Association

State Community Events Program major funding for both anchor festivals was provided by a New York state grant through Sen. John A. DeFrancisco.

ArtsWeek information is available online at www.syracuseartsandcraftsfestival.com.