Artown Begins!

Reno's Artown 2010 begins on Thursday and runs the entire month of July. The Artown opening day party starts at 4 p.m. at the new Freight House District by Aces Ballpark. Join the fun with kids' face painting (reservations required), free dance lessons at the 250 Lounge, and a parade to Wingfield Park led by the MarchFourth Marching Band. At Wingfield Park, a Cuban dance party will rev up at 7:30 p.m. with Latin dance music by Tiempo Libre. Everyone is encouraged to get up and move, regardless of your dancing skills.

Get ready to go by checking out Artown's searchable listing of events. A paper copy of the schedule is available at numerous locations around town. For you iPhone freaks, there is an app of the schedule available for download. Versions for BlackBerry and Android devices are scheduled for release July 1, 2010.

For a look at Artown performances from previous years, check out the Artown pictures gallery.

Give $3, Keep Artown Free. With over 63% of its events free, Artown is launching a campaign to solicit a few extra bucks. The goal is to increase individual contributions so Artown can continue to present the high-caliber free programming attendees have come to expect. Here's how you can help...

• At any of 30 U.S. Bank branches in Reno, Sparks, Truckee, Incline Village, Carson City, Dayton and Gardnerville. Collection containers at each location are available or customers can donate directly to the Give $3 account directly from their U.S. Bank account.
• In Wingfield Park on July 1 opening night, July 31 closing night, and throughout the week at the Monday Night Family Series, Wednesday's World Music Series, and Friday's Movies in the Park events.
• Through donation envelopes distributed in the July 11 issue of the Reno Gazette-Journal.
• Online at the Artown website.

Sources: Artown, RKPR Inc.

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