Come downtown Madison tonight for a great evening of bargains on the sidewalk, free trolley rides, art, music, free food and drink, and shopping!

Art Jam hosts the opening of Paul Hassfurder’s art show at Village Lights Bookstore from 7-9 pm this evening.

Free trolley rides are brought to you by The Riverboat Inn and the Broadway Hotel and Tavern.  Check them out, drop in for a drink and some music!

Stop by the Artisan’s Gallery, Madison Mercantile, Something Simple, Fine Threads, Little People’s Boutique, Joan’s, Wanda’s Gifts, Hertz Shoes, Whimsy, The Birdhouse, Madison Apothecary, & lots of other great downtown shops open till 8 or 9 pm this evening.  Lots of them are even serving complimentary food and drink (alcoholic and non).

The weather’s great.  Come downtown!

Tonight’s Art Jam will host the inaugural visits of our Bicentennial historical characters, who will be in costume and in character, joining the rest of the Art Jam crowd this evening from 5-9pm.  Visit with Irene Dunne, Charlotte Sullivan, Jenny Lind, Sarah Bolton and Michael Garber as you stroll Madison’s sidewalks.

Also making appearances are Lt. Col. Alois Bachman, Harriet McGlasson, Lillian Williams, Lydia Middleton, Patsy Harris, Elizabet & Sadie Rose, John Brough, Walter Krueger, Delia Webster, William Hendricks, and the First nursing director at the State Hospital.

Get a bite to eat at a downtown eatery, or stop in one of the many open retails establishments serving free refreshments.  The Madison Main Street Program office at 132 E. Main will be serving refreshments and will be open for questions, browsing the resource library, and purchasing Bicentennial merchandise.

And of course, there are the talented musicians and artists who will be performing and showing their work throughout Madison’s commercial district–in restaurants and bars, galleries, stores and on the sidewalks.  Join the Jam!

March Art Jam, on March 27 from 5-9 pm in Downtown Madison, is looking really exciting–

Hanover College is sponsoring the Trolley, so it will be running from 6-9 pm.  If you would like information on being a Trolley sponsor, please contact Nancy at 812-701-9500.

Village Lights Bookstore at 110 East Main Street is hosting Hanover College student original poetry and prose readings, and Tiffany Black is throwing a party/fundraiser for the Shipley’s building mural from 6-11 at the Feed Mill, 301 West Street.  Tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the door, and there will be lots of music & a raffle of one of the mural sponsor spots.  Bands playing include the Bill Bettler trio, Brandon Cox, Kriss Luckett & Greg Ziesemer, Roy Gentry and Samesoul.

And of course, your merchants–like Madison Mercantile, Generations Old-Time Photography, Whimsy, Something Simple,  and The Birdhouse–will be open late too.  The Attic will be open late & is unveiling its newest offering, Gelato.  Sounds yummy!

Leticia Bajuyo will be displaying recent artworks at the Artisans Gallery & will be on site from 6-7 for the opening.

Lots to do.  Make a trip Downtown Madison–Join the Jam!

P.S.  April’s Art Jam is going to have lots of interesting “characters” on the streets.  More later!

Hey, Art Jam’s going to be back on the fourth Friday of every month until next November!

Plan on showing up downtown Madison January 23, 5-9 pm, for art, music, wine & food & shopping.  We should have the trolley running between 6 and 9 so you don’t get too cold!

See you there!

Yes, there is an Art Jam.

December Art Jam is this Friday, December 12, 5-9 pm!  Hope you can be there!

Stores are decorated for Christmas, and lots of them will be staying open late for holiday shopping.

You’ll also find music and art and free food & drink, just like you do at all the Art Jams!  The music may not be on the street as much this Friday, but just step inside, warm up and listen to some great music, view some amazing art, and do a little shopping!

The free Art-Jam Trolley will not be running for this Art Jam, but will be running for the January 23 Art Jam!

See you there!  Nancy

November Art Jam is the SECOND Friday–November 14.  (December’s is also the second Friday.)

See you there!

Art Jam IS happening this evening, with or without the rain!  (I think it’s supposed to lighten up around 4, and be DONE by 7, so we just might have a rain-less night anyway.)

Look for the yellow flags & OPEN signs & go INTO the stores & galleries, eateries & nightclubs for indoor art & music this evening, and at all winter Art Jams!

See you there!

Yes, there will be Art Jam.

As the fourth Fridays of November and December are holidays weekends, we’re moving Art Jam to the Second Fridays for those months.  Come downtown for holiday season Art Jams for great ambiance while you’re doing your Christmas shopping!

When it gets cold, just look for the yellow flags & go inside for a variety of music, art, shopping and refreshments!

Art Jam WILL continue through the winter months–January, February…–right through the year, back on its Fourth Friday date.

See you there!

October’s Art Jam is coming up soon–Friday, October 24 from 5-9.

The trolley is once again free, due to the sponsorship of Whimsy, and will be running from 6-9.  We’d like to thank the Riverboat Inn and River Valley Financial Bank for sponsoring September’s trolley!

Look for new and returning musicians and artists up and down Main Street!  See you there!

Yes, there is a September Art Jam–today, fourth Friday, 5-9 pm, free trolley from 6-9. Come downtown & check out everything that’s happening!

This evening at the Art Jam, there will be art & music on the streets, open stores, art in galleries and on the walls all over downtown. Many stores & galleries will be serving refreshments. And there are free trolley rides, sponsored by the Riverboat Inn, from 6-9 pm.

Old Court Days starts today, and Chautauqua begins tomorrow. Come downtown–Madison looks beautiful, and the weather’s going to be perfect.

Don’t forget there’s Music in the Park–special Chautauqua edition–Saturday evening from 7-9 at the Broadway Fountain. Everyone loves The Doctors Band!

The next Art Jam is October 24 & yes, we will have a Halloween theme (optional of course).

Then in November & December, we’ll be moving Art Jam to the second Fridays–because Thanksgiving and Christmas already have the fourth weekends locked up.

See you downtown!