CARY ’S OFFERING RELAXATION WITH A FUN TWIST AT THE 31ST annual lazy daze Arts & Crafts FESTIVAL

Day in the Life Project, Relaxation Station & the Cold Zone a few of this year’s highlights

CARY, NC –The Town of Cary’s Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival is back and bigger than ever with new features and great food, entertainment and arts and crafts;  nearly 60,000 people from around the world will converge in downtown Cary for the 31^st festival on Saturday, August 25, 2007, 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 – Meath County , Ireland – to officially open the Town’s largest festival that features the best in arts and crafts, food and entertainment.

“Each year, Lazy Daze continues to draw more of the nation’s most talented artists and eager arts & crafts enthusiasts,” said Town of Cary Festival Coordinator Joy Cox .  “And this year, the festival will feature even more opportunities to engage with the artists and have a relaxing, good time.”

New for 2007, the Cary Post Office parking lot will be transformed into a crafts extravaganza!  Clay, basketweave, knitting and embroidery guilds will demonstrate their talents in the Demonstrating Artist Guilds showcase.  Visitors can ask questions, get information, learn a new skill or just watch local guild members.  There will also be an opportunity to record your own Lazy Daze experience through photos and videos at the Day in the Life Project hosted by the Cary News.  

Also, the Rex Healthcare relaxation station will offer festival goers the chance to unwind with food vendors, as well as enjoy the “cultural arts petting zoo” –a sampling of programs offered by the Cultural Arts Division of the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department.  This year’s Lazy Daze is being presented by Rex Healthcare.  There will also be hammocks, recreational areas with sand and toys for children and picnic tables for eating food and playing games.  And for the kids, the NBC-17 mascot, “Feathers”, will be at the NBC-17 booth in “Peacock Alley” along with NBC-17 Personalities.  NBC-17 is this year’s television media sponsor.

Cary ’s Sister Cities Association is also bringing an international twist to Cary ’s Lazy Daze as part of a cultural exchange area.  Located behind the Cary Library, the “Cold Zone” will feature domestic and imported beers, food and entertainment, and not to mention, a place to relax and refresh. Food will also be available in this area – the Wake Technical Community College culinary arts students will be on hand providing brats and other treats! 

Festival goers are invited to visit more the hundreds of booths that will line Academy and Chatham streets in which artists 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 visit Booth #C300 (near the corner of Chatham and Academy Streets) and purchase the official Lazy Daze poster, which this year features the work of New Orleans native Stanley Fontaine. Fontaine has enjoyed a 25-year history as a member of the Jackson Square art colony in the famous French Quarter of New Orleans.  Painted specifically for the Festival, Fontaine’s artwork is a jazzy, upbeat look at the Festival and features favorite downtown icons such as the downtown clock.

Throughout the day, three stages of live entertainment will be featured—Freedom Boat Club Stage (in front of Fidelity Bank), Back to Basics Stage (located at the intersection of Dry Avenue and Academy Street), and the AT&T Kid’s World Stage (corner of Park Street and Academy Street).  In addition, Shadow Players Stage Combat Group will rove throughout the festival, and the Ferguson Family Fiddlers will grace the audience in the Cold Zone.

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 .  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 .

In the event of rain, the festival will be held on Sunday, August 26 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 $386,000 over the last 31 years. 

In 2006, the Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival’s Sunshine Artist national ranking moved up from #30 to #23 – breaking into the Top 25.  Rankings are based on audit ballots from participating artists from around the country. Also, Lazy Daze is the only one-day Festival in the Top 25, making it the top-rated one day Festival in the country in the Classic and Contemporary Crafts category.

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

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