Santa Rosa Arts and Culture Foundation issues call out

The City of Milton, Santa Rosa Arts and Culture Foundation and Navy League Santa Rosa County Council join in welcoming you to celebrate the 21stAnnual Riverwalk Arts Festival, March 14th and 15th, 2009 in historic downtown Milton. 

The Santa Rosa Arts and Culture Foundation, Inc. (SRACF) in its mission to vitalize, promote and enhance the arts and culture in our county announces its ‘First Call’ to all artists, entertainers, performers, historic and ethnic cultural groups, vendors and volunteers who would like to participate in the 21st Anniversary Riverwalk Arts Festival scheduled to be held on the weekend of March 14-15, 2009 along the banks of the Blackwater River in historic downtown Milton's Riverwalk Park. 

This event draws tens of thousands to the historic downtown Milton area for a weekend of delight that embraces the sights, sounds and aromas of an old time Festival in the best Southern tradition.

Milton, Florida, established in 1825 as a trading post on the banks of the Blackwater River was once the hub of a river-based economy producing bricks made from local clay, harvesting virgin yellow pine lumber and turpentine stores along with other lumber related industries including building ships and assorted products. Settlers came from many diverse cultural backgrounds to mingle with the remnants of the Native populations.

The 21st Anniversary Riverwalk Arts Festival will celebrate arts and culture heritage with spirit and flair on Sat. March 14 and Sun. March 15, 2009 in downtown Milton's Riverwalk Park.

Artists, musician, dancers and storytellers will gather to share their talents and you are cordially invited to join them. A juried Fine Art Show will feature classic categories competing for cash prizes, while the Traditional Folk Art Exhibits will offer demonstrations and sales of heritage art forms.

We welcome history buffs to visit Civil War encampments and the Blackwater Pirates lair, as well as walking tours of local historic districts. The Milton 1909 L&N Depot Museum Complex, celebrating its 100th anniversary, offers one of Northwest Florida's finest collection of railroad artifacts and rolling stock, not to mention a model railroad Gift Shop - only minutes from downtown. 

Application forms are now available on our websites www.santarosaarts.org and www.sracf.org  (simply click on forms) or are available by calling (850) 623-8493, FAX (850) 623-4098.

Space is limited so please pass this message on and make a speedy response. In addition to visual art, we invite writers, musicians, dancers, actors, storytellers and others to join us. If you are part of an historical or ethnic cultural group that would like to perform or exhibit, please let us know.

For more information contact Pat D'Asaro at (850) 623-8493 or Jan Dempsey at (850) 623-3711.