By DONNA KENNY KIRWAN

PAWTUCKET — Get ready for a party. The energetic music of Buckwheat Zydeco combined with a dazzling array of food samplings from many of the city’s finest restaurants will highlight the Sept. 5 Festival Gala, the official kick-off of the 10th Annual Pawtucket Arts Festival.

The Festival Gala will take from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at the Slater Mill Historic Site, 67 Roosevelt Ave. in Pawtucket.
According to a press release from the Pawtucket Arts Festival, Buckwheat Zydeco, an internationally renowned musician, leads one of the best party bands in America and has performed at major festivals in America and around the world, including the Playboy Jazz Fest, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Jambalaya Jam, Newport Jazz Festival, San Diego Street Scene and others.
 He has been nominated for four Grammy Awards and has appeared on the David Letterman Show, Today show, CBS Morning News, NBC Nightly News, MTV, the BBC and National Public Radio.
In tandem with the musical performance, the “Taste of Pawtucket” event, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., will feature over 35 of Pawtucket’s best restaurants, bakeries and beverage companies. Patrons can visit and taste samplings of local and international cuisine.
Festival Gala tickets will cost $15 at the gate, with children under 10 admitted free. Advance tickets for $10 are available at ArtTix (visit the website at www.arttixri.com or call 401-621-6123) or at the Blackstone Valley Visitors Center, 175 Main St. (call 1-800-454-2882).
Herb Weiss, Pawtucket’s Economic and Cultural Affairs Officer who is serving as chairperson of this year’s festival, noted the festival’s 10 year milestone. “We’ve seen the festival grow over the years, primarily because of the strong support from the business community,” said Weiss.
“The first gala, held at the Pawtucket Library, drew about 35 people, and last year’s event brought over 2,000 people into the city’s downtown.”
Weiss also noted that the Pawtucket Arts Festival itself has grown from less than a handful of events to over 24.
Weiss said that the organizers have done some “tweaking” to this year’s gala designed to ease some complaints  about overcrowding. Roosevelt Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic and the food vendors will be lining the street.
In addition, he said there will be signage on each food tent to clearly advertise the vendor.
As a new feature, there will also be coupon books for participating restaurants and other local vendors that will be available for purchase at the Visitors Center and other places where tickets are being sold.
The entire Pawtucket Arts Festival, which will take place from Sept. 3 through Sept. 21 at various locations throughout Pawtucket, will be a showcase of visual and performing arts, music, theater and dance performances and interactive workshops, plus an antique car exhibit, antique appraisals, a seven-night film festival and two-day outdoor arts festival  and a photo contest. Most of these events are free to the public.
See FESTIVAL, Page A-2

“Over the years, the Pawtucket Arts Festival has grown significantly to where it now ranks as a premier event in our state,” said state Rep. Peter F. Kilmartin (D-Dist. 16, Pawtucket). He and his wife, Kristen, are serving as the festival’s honorary co-chairs. “Our executive committee has scheduled dozens of events providing loads of fun and excitement for all,” he added.
Among the many highlights are the Rhode Island Chinese Dragonboat Races & Taiwan Day Festival on Sept. 6, an Antique Appraisal Day at the Rhode Island Antiques Mall on Sept. 6, and the Slater Mill Labor and Ethnic Heritage Festival and Antique Car Exhibit in the Apex parking lot on Sept. 7. 
Later that month, events will include the third annual Hope Artiste Village Open House on Sept. 12, the Day for Kids Festival and Battle of the Bands at the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket, and the Pawtucket Teachers’ Alliance Pops in the Park, featuring the Rhode Island Philharmonic on Sept. 13.
On Sept. 13-14, the Arts Fest 2008 and Stone Soup Folk Fest will be held, featuring over 70 artists will showcase their work in Slater Park. A performance by nationally known jazz musician Greg Abate takes place on Sept. 19, and artists open their doors at Pawtucket Open Studios on Sept. 19-21.

Movie buffs will appreciate the seven nights of film that are scheduled as part of the Mirror Image Film Festival and RI Film Collaborative on Sept. 12-14 and Sept. 18-21.

Many area businesses sponsor the festival, including such major media sponsors as WJAR/NBC 10, Clear Channel Communications, Cox Media/Cox Communications and the Pawtucket Times, along with principal sponsors such as the City of Pawtucket, Pawtucket Teachers’ Alliance, the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, the Taiwan Visitor Association, Hope Artiste Village and the PawSox.

A complete schedule of all festival events, locations and times is available at www.pawtucketartsfestival.org or by calling program coordinator Diane Agostini at 724-5200.
-30-