Local artists work day and night to get the attention they need to sell their art, and local businesses work day and night to get the same amount of attention, as well. In Elizabethton, these two groups are planning to partner up for a city-wide event that will accomplish their goals.

Karen Hitchcock of Blue River Studios is preparing for downtown Elizabethton’s Art Walk, a day-long event in which people can meet and greet various local artists and interact with local businesses at the same time.

Hitchcock described the event as like a festival.

“There will be musicians on the street, food trucks will be there and the local restaurants will be open,” she said.

During the Art Walk, those who attend will receive a sort of passport, and it is their goal to visit the multitude of different stores to meet local artists displaying their works. The artist will then put a stamp on the visitor’s passport, and at the end of the event, they will turn in their now-full passports to enter into drawings.

She said the event’s goal is to convince people to come and visit the downtown area.

“This will bring people downtown,” Hitchcock said. “They can see people they have not seen in a while.”

She said the desire to bring people into downtown is to help showcase what the businesses there have to offer.

“They can come by and see what the businesses have done here,” she said. “Instead of going to Walmart and buying stuff there, you can come down here.”

Many local businesses have participated in the program in the past, including Tweetsie Treats, Duck Crossing and the Coffee Company. While many of the businesses participating have done so for several years, Hitchcock said several new businesses have signed on for this time around.

“I have a list of artists to contact every time we do this, but we have many new ones this year,’ she said.

She said seeing the community’s involvement in the event is why she hosts it.

“I like seeing the number of people here and their laughter and happiness,” Hitchcock said. “They are discovering things they did not realize were down here.”

Businesses looking to sign up to host a particular artist or an artist looking to participate in the Art Walk can either stop by the Blue River Studio itself at 527 E. Elk Avenue or can call at 585-406-3255.

The Art Walk itself will take place on Saturday, March 30, and while she did not specify a specific day on which registration will cut off, she did recommend signing up sooner so they can fit into the schedule before she prints the passports with location.

“This is a good family time to discover new things,” Hitchcock said.