Downtown Creates...
JOIN US AS DOWNTOWN APPLETON ARTISTS, RETAIL SHOPS, RESTAURANTS AND MORE CREATE AN EXPERIENCE YOU WON’T FORGET!
Explore and enjoy rhythm & music, performing arts, visual arts, art of food, art of fashion, and more. From virtual events to exciting walking activities and more, it will be full of creativity. See below for each month’s special features and what you can expect!
2020 Series & Special Features:
August 21, 2020 – PAINT-OUT!
NEW Plein Air PAINT-OUT! Competition!
Artists will register to complete painted masterpieces up and down the sidewalks of College Avenue on Friday, August 21. Stroll the Ave later that evening to see the completed works. Artists will begin creating their pieces as early as 9am and be complete by 6pm. Watch for the People’s Choice Voting the following week on ADI’s Facebook page.
In It To Win It artists' completed pieces will be part of an ONLINE SILENT AUCTION from Tuesday, August 25 at 9am to Tuesday, September 1 at 9am - make one of these masterpieces yours while you support a local artist! (Link to auction will be shared on this page once open)
Creative Kids To-Go Kits on Friday, August 21 from 2-6pm:
Need some more hands on projects for the littles in your life? Pick-up FREE to-go art kits that will include some great gems from our local partners. This month in your kit you can expect to find:
- Building For Kids: Summer Shenanigans Packet
- Creative Downtown Appleton: Binocular Craft
- Appleton Public Library: Paper Dinosaurs, I Spy and more!
- Appleton Area School District Birth to 5: Fish Themed Projects!
- Girl Scouts of Northwestern Great Lakes: Make A Wish Q-Tip Painting
- Trout Museum of Art: Suncatchers
*Registration for kit pick up will be required. Limited quantity of kits available. How to Register for Kit Pick Up:
- Register for your kit online by choosing one of the available time slots between 2-6pm on Friday, August 21 (Please note, when you register you can select the number of kits needed for your family, maximum of 4 kits per family)
- Visit the Building for Kids (100 W College Ave) on the day of your pick-up at the time you selected. Please make your best efforts to arrive at your registered time in order to ensure a contact-free experience. If you are running at least 5 minutes ahead or behind your scheduled time, please call the BFK to notify staff - this way we can ensure your kit pick-up remains contact-free: 920-734-3226
- Go to the front of the BFK where a table will be set-up outside of the museum entrance. Your registered number of kits will be on the table. Please take your kits.
- Take your kit home and enjoy! Remember to share your pictures with us! We love to see you and your family working on the projects!
Downtown Sidewalk Sale - ALL DAY!
Shop & support local in an open-air environment while Downtown businesses have items for sale outside on the sidewalks - click here to view the list of businesses participating.
Downtown Story Walk with the Appleton Public Library
StoryWalk® combines family time, physical activity, and reading. Follow this month's story, Drum Dream Girl by Margarita Engle, page-by-page posted in windows along College Ave.
The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Storywalk® is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson.
*In support of Governor Ever's Executive Order, wear a mask when visiting Downtown Creates... events.
July 17, 2020 – Chalk Walk
Annual Chalk Walk Competition!
Artists will register to complete chalk masterpieces up and down the sidewalks of College Avenue on Friday, July 17. Stroll the Ave later that evening to see the completed works. Watch for the People’s Choice Voting the following week on ADI’s Facebook page.
Creative Kids To-Go Kits on Friday, July 17 from 2-6pm:
Need some more hands on projects for the littles in your life? Pick-up FREE to-go art kits that will include some great gems from our local partners. This month in your kit you can expect to find:
- Building For Kids: Create Your Own Idea Book
- Creative Downtown Appleton: Pineapple Handprint Picture Frame
- Appleton Public Library: Coloring/Activity Book & Peacock Bird Craft
- Appleton Area School District Birth to 5: Dinosaur Finger Play Activity
- Girl Scouts of Northwestern Great Lakes: Coffee Filter Butterflies
- Trout Museum of Art: Popsicle Stick Fan Project
- Fox Cities Performing Arts Center: Theater in a Box
*Registration for kit pick up will be required this month. Limited quantity of kits available. How to Register for Kit Pick Up:
- Register for your kit online by choosing one of the available time slots between 2-6pm on Friday, July 17 (Please note, when you register you can select the number of kits needed for your family, maximum of 4 kits per family)
- Visit the Building for Kids (100 W College Ave) on the day of your pick-up at the time you selected. Please make your best efforts to arrive at your registered time in order to ensure a contact-free experience. If you are running at least 5 minutes ahead or behind your scheduled time, please call the BFK to notify staff - this way we can ensure your kit pick-up remains contact-free: 920-734-3226
- Go to the front of the BFK where a table will be set-up outside of the museum entrance. Your registered number of kits will be on the table. Please take your kits.
- Take your kit home and enjoy! Remember to share your pictures with us! We love to see you and your family working on the projects!
Downtown Sidewalk Sale - ALL DAY!
Shop & support local in an open-air environment while Downtown businesses have items for sale outside on the sidewalks - click here to view the list of businesses participating.
Downtown Story Walk with the Appleton Public Library
StoryWalk® combines family time, physical activity, and reading. Follow the story "CHALK" by Bill Thomson, page-by-page posted in windows along College Ave.
The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Storywalk® is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson.
June 18 & 19, 2020 – Downtown Unites
New Mural! Watch from a far as Irineo Medina, local artist, creates a new masterpiece showing how Appleton Downtown Unites on South Appleton Street (east side of the Crazy Sweet building, across from Houdini Plaza). Work will begin Thursday, June 18 and continue into weekend (weather permitting). Click here for how to donate to Appleton Downtown Unites Fundraiser, where a portion of your donation will go towards this one-of-a-kind mural.
Creative Kids To-Go Kits on Thursday, June 18 from noon-4:30pm: Need some more hands on projects for the littles in your life? Pick-up FREE to-go art kits that will include some great gems from our local partners. This month in your kit you can expect to find:
- Building For Kids Children’s Museum: Sketchbook OR Modeling Clay
- Creative Downtown Appleton: Little Golden Books
- Appleton Public Library: Balancing Robot
- Trout Museum of Art: Sidewalk Chalk
- Appleton Area School District Birth to 5: Paint with Water Activities
*Only 100 to-go kits available, first come first serve
Contactless pick-up will be available outside the Appleton Downtown Inc. Office (333 W. College Ave, Ste 100) from Thursday, June 18 from noon- 4:30pm & Friday, June 19 from 8:30am-3:30pm (while supplies last). Please practice social distancing by maintaining 6ft away from others and waiting your turn to pick up your bag from the table.
3rd Virtual Shop Hop – Thursday, June 18 from 6-8pm – click here to see how you can shop local and support downtown businesses!