TENS OF thousands expectED in downtown CARY FOR the 30^th annual lazy daze Arts & Crafts FESTIVAL

Celebration to feature the Best in Art, Food and Entertainment  

CARY, NC – The Town of Cary is gearing up for a colossal celebration of Cary’s award-winning festival; nearly 50,000-60,000 people from Cary and abroad will head to the streets of downtown Cary to celebrate the 30^th Annual Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival on Saturday, August 26, 2006, from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.  At 8:45 a.m. , Cary Mayor Ernie McAlister, Cary Town Council and the Town’s Festival Committee will join representatives from Cary ’s Sister City – Hsinchu City , Taiwan – to officially open the Town’s largest festival that features the best in arts and crafts, food and entertainment.

“We are looking forward to the best Lazy Daze ever,” said Town of Cary Festival Coordinator Joy Cox .  “In 1977, the foundation was laid for a celebration that continues to make history, drawing people from all backgrounds together for good times, great food, and exceptional art.  Everyone is invited to come be a part of history that’s been three decades in the making.”

Eager festival goers are invited to visit more than 350 booths that will line Academy and Chatham streets in which artists from as far away as California will showcase and sell a variety of unique, handmade products.  Attendees can also stroll through the lawn of old Cary Elementary School , where art and civic groups will distribute important information.

Everyone is also encouraged to stop and purchase the official Lazy Daze poster, which this year features the work of Cary resident and Lazy Daze founder Jerry Miller. Miller was selected as this year’s official artist for his watercolor rendition of Cary ’s downtown streets filled with tents and people during a Lazy Daze festival. 

For those who can’t wait to get their hands on the official artwork, Miller’s artistry is already available on the side of two million commemorative Diet Pepsi cans distributed throughout North Carolina in honor of the festival’s milestone; Pepsi, Inc. of North Carolina is the official sponsor of the 2006 Lazy Daze Festival.  Also, a limited number of Limited Edition hand-painted tiles showcasing his painting will be available for purchase at Lazy Daze while supplies last. 

Throughout the day, three stages of live entertainment will be feature--on Fidelity Stage (in front of Fidelity Bank), Old Cary Elementary Stage (located at the intersection of Dry Avenue and Academy Street ), and Kid’s World Stage (corner of Park Street and Academy Street ).  In addition, the Harmonettes, an a cappella women’s quartet, and the Shadow Players Stage Combat Group will rove throughout the festival, providing entertainment for the young and young at heart.

The easiest way to get to Lazy Daze is to take one of the free shuttles that will run from Cary Towne Center at Sears to Cary Elementary School .  Shuttles will run every 15 minutes beginning at 8:30 a.m. , and the last bus leaves Cary Elementary at 5:30 p.m.   Cary Towne Center is located at the corner of Maynard Road and Walnut Street .

In the event of rain, the festival will be held on Sunday, August 27 from 1-7 p.m. This weather decision and subsequent announcement will be made before 8 a.m. on Saturday if the event is postponed.

Proceeds from the festival help fund the Lazy Daze grant program, which returns money into the Cary community in the form of grants to non-profit organizations -- about $350,000 over the last 30 years.  Lazy Daze has consistently been named in the top 30 festivals in the nation by Sunshine Artist Magazine, most recently in 2005. 

For more, including the complete entertainment schedule, visit Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival at www.townofcary.org. 

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