Live music, a live painting competition, a book launch and ample opportunity to sample local goods and services are all part of the second annual High Street Block Party organized by Good Day Sunshine Café.
The event is set for Saturday (Aug. 23) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the shops on High Street, located adjacent to and behind the Staples and Canadian Tire buildings at South Point Exchange (there is also access off King George Boulevard).
Most of the High Street businesses will be participating with sidewalk sales, promotions and food sampling – including a mini-farmers' market featuring some of the stores' suppliers – but there will also be a strong arts component, courtesy of Good Day Sunshine owners Jessie Chou and Chris Barber's emphasis on providing a venue for artistic endeavours.
One of the key events will be Semiahmoo Arts' Combat Canvas live painting competition, in which local artists have been invited to 'duke-it-out' (on canvas at least) in two 45-minute contest sessions (at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.) in which the winners will be determined by ballots submitted by block party participants.
All of the 16-by-20-inch paintings will remain on display at the café until Aug. 31, in a silent auction with proceeds benefiting future Semiahmoo Arts programs.
From noon to 4 p.m., local musicians will be featured in 30-minute sets on an outdoor stage.
They include Dennis Peterson, host of the café's open mic music night; The Unsupervised Trio (John Liard, Vicky Oates and Kelly McQuillan); Carl Katz; Mary and Stewart Revill; Ava Carich and Curtis Heimburger, Josh Bogert and Isobel Ralph, first second and third place winners, respectively, of the 2014 Diamond in the Rock youth talent contest.
Local self-published author, professional coach and educator Lesley Taylor, M.Ed., will also hold a launch and signing for her book, The Dynamic Introvert, at Good Day Sunshine as part of the event.
For more information on the block party, email gdscafe@hotmail.com