CARBONDALE CELEBRATION OFFERS MUSIC, DANCE, DRAMA

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Arts in Celebration will offer two weekends of activities -- music, dance, art, drama and more -- in downtown Carbondale.

"A September Night" and "October Days" will be observed as part of the biennial festival, scheduled Sept. 29 and Oct. 7-8.

"September Night" will include art exhibits, mini concerts and receptions in the downtown area and on Southern Illinois University campus.

"This will be a one-day event, from 7 to 11 p.m.," said Marianne Lawrence, a spokesperson for Carbondale Community Arts, sponsor of the event.

A Clocks & Sock exhibit, a display of creatively designed clocks and socks, will be held at the Carbondale Train Depot, and a juried art exhibit will be held at the Southern Illinois University Museum.

A number of mini-concerts, by various church groups will be presented during the evening. A finale jazz concert will be held at 9 p.m. at the Freight Depot Pavilion in the Town Square, with vocalist Rita Warford and her ensemble.

"October Days" will be held at Evergreen Park in the southern part of the city.

"Antique Answer," an antique appraisal fair, will be held during October Days, featuring appraisers from the Southern Illinois region.

Another special attraction during October Days will be the "Millennium Clothesline, a two-mile-long "landscape art."

Entertainment will be presented throughout the park during the October event, offering hands-on activities and demonstrations geared primarily for children.

Admission to October Days is $3 for adults and children under 16 are free.

September Night events are free. Limited parking is available near the park, but a free shuttle service will be available from SIU Arena.