Reno Rebirth is the name of the game in the Biggest Little City and the annual Midtown Art Walk is no stranger to the movement. This year’s celebration of culture, commerce, and community will take place July 24 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. with starting points at either Living Stones or Junkee Clothing Exchange.
“Every year we have visitors exploring shops during the Art Walk they didn’t know existed” says Event Director, Craig Parish. “They might come to see their favorite artist and find out about local musicians or a new restaurant. You never know what you’ll find when exploring Midtown.”
New to the Art Walk this year are three main stages located on California Avenue, St Lawrence Avenue and Martin Street, with back to back performances throughout the evening. Among the live performances are the Reno Video Game Symphony, the Reno Philharmonic, and a fashion show hosted by local vintage boutique, The Nest. Dancers from The Loft Dance Studio will add to the excitement by surprising visitors with pop-up street performances in the area.
The exposure for artists, plus high foot traffic for shops, equals a win-win for all. The event continues to grow with new businesses opening frequently in previously abandoned buildings, vacant lots and adult entertainment stores that have shut down. Among the newly opened businesses on the walk this year are Double Edge Fitness, Laughing Planet Café and Two Chicks.
Twenty-six new businesses have been added to the Art Walk map from last year, totaling nearly 70 merchants and vendors, and 60 artists. “The face of our neighborhood is always changing. We have locally-owned shops and restaurants at the center of the city’s revitalization,” says the event’s Creative Director, Liz Mumford. “Add in the creativity of Reno artists and you have this unexpected and exciting culture that defines Midtown.”
Visitors can pick up a map at any of the two starting points and are encouraged to share their discoveries on social media by using the hashtag “#MTARTWALK.”
