In 1999...

Pawtucket's first arts festival, held in June 1999, offered the public a series of art-related demonstrations, concerts and displays to coincide with the annual popular Arts Festival of the same name in Providence. The Arts Festival featured performances by the world famous Jazz artists Dave McKenna, Scott Hamilton and Gray Sargent.

Artist tents at Slater Park

Other performances included painting and marionettes from French artist Rowena Clark, classic music by the Portuguese group Duo Contracello (from Portugal) and the Charleston String Quartet.

Throughout this 16-day festival, music lovers also had the pleasure of listening to French-Canadian (Conrad Depot performing) and American Folk musicians Pendragon, Atwater & Donnelly, and Plain Folk. Workshops for children taught tile painting and how to create sculptures out of junk pulled from the Blackstone River. Other types of art included poetry readings, theater, and a photo exhibit featuring winners of a Citywide photography contest, appropriately named, "Pawtucket: A City in Focus."