Some of the best events downtown are the free ones. Likewise, some of the best places to visit downtown are the numerous art galleries. Put the two together and you have the 23rd Annual Annapolis Art Walk, coming to downtown this Thursday, August 15. This longstanding tradition in the art community is open to the public, completely free, and best of all, requires little effort on your part. We’ve got the scoop on the night of free art entertainment below.

Though the art walk has been going on for twenty-three years, if you’ve never attended, here’s what you’re missing: Essentially, the art walk is a block of time (5 to 9 p.m.) in which over twenty art galleries extend their hours of operation, open new exhibits, show off new artwork, and even bring in artists to demonstrate art methods and create in front of a crowd. Because the event happens all over the city–from West Annapolis all the way to Eastport–there isn’t necessarily a starting point or an end point. The evening presents you the chance to explore galleries without any inhibitions or strict deadlines.

Some of the galleries that participate in this much-anticipated event include:

Eastport
The Eastport Gallery, 419 Fourth Street
Liz Lind Editions, 423 Fourth Street

Downtown Annapolis
Easy Street, 8 Francis Street
Main Street Gallery, 216B Main Street
McBride Gallery, 215 Main Street
The Annapolis Collection Gallery, 55 West Street
Annapolis Marine Art Gallery, 110 Dock Street
Whitehall Gallery, 57 West Street
The Annapolis Pottery, 40 State Circle
La Petite Galerie, 39 Maryland Avenue
Aurora Gallery, 67 Maryland Avenue
Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts’ galleries

West Annapolis
West Annapolis Art Works, 4 Annapolis Street
Art Things, Inc., 2 Annapolis Street

You can find more of the galleries that will participate via the following link: Art Walk Map and Galleries.Most of the galleries will have copies of the Art Walk Map available for use.

Aside from perusing the fine art and mixed media at the galleries, attendees to the event will hear live music, enjoy lite fare and refreshments, and can catch a few artist demonstrations. For example, McBride Gallery at 215 Main Street has released word that they will host artist Hiu Lai Chong at the event for demonstrations about her oil painting methods. Additionally, potters set up demonstrations at Annapolis Pottery as pictured above.

Yellow banners will mark the galleries open for the art walk.

Parking for the event is as usual: going for the garages is the best bet. It may be smart to map out the galleries you want to see and park at the closest garage. Parking at the Annapolis Harbor is also feasible.

There are no tickets or passes required to enjoy this artsy affair. However, in the event of rain, bring an umbrella as the art walk goes on, rain or shine.

Cynthia McBride of McBride Gallery and Judy Brick are doing much of the organizing for this event; contact them with questions via www.artinannapolis.com or cynthia@mcbridegallery.com. Bring the kids, friends, or family, and bask in artistic beauty!