CARY, NC – Make plans to bring family and friends out for the southeast’s top-ranked festival, the 33^rd Annual Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival, on Saturday, August 22; from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., the streets of downtown Cary will be filled with the finest arts and crafts made by nearly 400 artists from 17 states as well as delicious foods and entertainment for the whole family. At 8:45 a.m., Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht, 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 premier festival.

“Everyone is invited to take advantage of this one-of-a-kind opportunity to not only purchase fine arts, but also to meet the artists,” said Joy Ennis, festival coordinator. “Every year, Lazy Daze gets bigger and better, attracting more than 50,000 festival goers in 2008. Whether you have never been to Lazy Dave, have attended every year, or something in between, we look forward to having you with us in downtown Cary on Saturday.”

New for 2009, guests are invited to visit Our Town, an area featuring several exemplary services provided by the Town of Cary! Town representatives will be available to help festival goers find out how to take advantage of Town services. Our Town also features face painting, a henna artist, and the Town’s electronic mascots – PC the Patrol Car and Fire Hydrant. Featured booths include: Recycling Program, Water Conservation Program, Cary Police Department/Citizens Assisting Police Team, Pretreatment Program, Stormwater Program, Greenways Committee, Inspections & Permits, and the Fire Department.

Cary citizens can also head to the N.C. Center for Voter Education (NCCVE) booth near Old Cary Elementary for their chance to be on-camera as part of the 2009 Cary Community Candidate Forum. For the first time ever, citizens can record their questions in person or submit a written question for candidates for local office during Lazy Daze. Sponsored by the NCCVE and the Town, the forum is the only forum for local candidates to be cablecast on Cary TV 11.

Kids can venture to Kids’ World for an educational tour at Safety Town – a town just their size! While visiting Kids' World, children of all ages are invited to get creative with make-and-take art activities. This year features shaker wands and colorful pasta necklaces. Also in Kids’ World – cool off in the misting tent and enjoy yummy food and special kids’ entertainment!

Featured festival artist Christine MacLellan will be on-site at booth #C300 (near the corner of Chatham and Academy Streets). Guests can purchase the official Lazy Daze poster designed by MacLellan at either of the information tents at the Festival. The poster depicts a scene from the 2008 festival and features festival founder, Jerry Miller. Raised in Rhode Island, MacLellan moved to Durham in 1987.

Art lovers are also encouraged to explore the 2009-10 Temporary Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit, presented by Cary Visual Art, on the Cary Town Hall Campus, 316 N. Academy St. The show features ten sculptures by artists from North Carolina, Florida and Georgia. Guided tours and activities will be ongoing during the festival at the Sculpture Exhibit.

Returning to Lazy Daze this year are: Kids’ World; Sister Cities Association Beer Garden; Hands on History presented by the Page-Walker Arts & History Center; and Wellness World.

The day’s entertainment will be changing constantly at three stages. River Meadows Stage (located in front of Fidelity Bank), Old Cary Elementary School Stage (located in front of Old Cary Elementary School) and Our State Kid’s World Stage (located in Kid’s World – corner of Park and Academy Streets) will host entertainment that includes cloggers, live music, clowns, magic and more. Roving entertainment will be provided by the Interactive Theater of Jef, Balloons with Magic Tom, and the Shadow Players Stage Combat Group.

Avoid the traffic and take one of the free shuttles running every 15 minutes from Sears at Cary Towne Center Mall to Cary Elementary School. The first bus leaves Sears at 8:30 a.m. and the last bus leaves Cary Elementary at 5:30 p.m. Cary Towne Center Mall is located at the corner of Maynard Road and Walnut Street. Free parking is available at the Cary Town Hall Parking Deck – just an easy two-block walk to the Festival. The deck is located on Wilkinson Avenue between Cary Town Hall and the Herbert C. Young Community Center. Handicapped parking is located at the Town Hall by the railroad tracks and behind the Old Cary Elementary School (entrance off of Kildaire Farm Road).

Lazy Daze proceeds are returned to the community in the form of grants to local non-profits whose projects add to the Town’s quality of life. Since its inception, the Lazy Daze Grants Program has re-invested more than $445,000 in the local community in the form of grants.

In case of inclement weather, Lazy Daze Arts and Crafts Festival will take place on August 23 from 1-7 p.m., also in downtown Cary.

For more information, including the complete entertainment schedule, visit Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival at www.townofcary.org or call (919) 469‑4061.

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PRIMARY CONTACTS:     Joy Cox Ennis, Festival Coordinator, (919) 462-3864 
                                       April Raphiou, Deputy Public Information Officer, (919) 481-5091 
                                       Susan Moran, Public Information Officer, (919) 460-4951