WHAT: Publix Run To The Arts – an artsy 5K

WHEN: February 8, 2015 • 7:30AM

WHERE: ArtFest Fort Myers – Edwards Drive in front of Harborside Event Center

WHO: All runners & walkers welcome

PRICE: $25 – includes artsy T-shirt, breakfast, door prizes and more

MORE INFO: RunToTheArts.com

5K. Run or walk, race or fun. At the one and only ArtFest Fort Myers.

When announcing Publix Run to the Arts Sharon McAllister, ArtFest Fort Myers’ Executive Director said “This is so much more than any ordinary 5K. The first ever Publix Run To The Arts brings together the best that life has to offer: health and fitness, arts and culture, friends and family, and the scenic beauty of the Fort Myers waterfront. In our view it is all about quality of life in our community”.

Publix Run to the Arts isn’t just a race, it’s a full morning of fun that kicks off Sunday morning at ArtFest Fort Myers with exceptional art, entertainment, and children’s art activities. Runners and their guests will enjoy live music and be the first to sneak a peek at the artist booths on Sunday morning, even before the festival opens to the public.  Join the fun at the Silk Experience as dynamic silk painting artists invite runners to exercise their creativity and create group silk paintings.

Post-race festivities include a scrumptious breakfast, a chance to make art at the Silk Experience, race awards, live entertainment, fabulous door prizes, and much more. Take part in a new Fort Myers tradition, participate in the Publix Run To The Arts!

When learning of ArtFest’s newest event Tamara Pigott, Executive Director Visitor & Convention Bureau said “It makes perfect sense to blend fitness, well-being, and the arts with our natural surroundings.  The inaugural Publix Run To The Arts will showcase our waterfront.  This is especially fitting, as it is the great beauty of our waters, that has inspired so many artistic endeavors in the past.  We, at the VCB, look forward to helping this event thrive as a new Fort Myers tradition.”

Publix Run To The Arts registration fee guarantees a spot in the race as well as all of these runners-only goodies:

• Run to the Arts t-shirt, with beautiful art by wildly popular 2014 ArtFest Fort Myer Poster artist, Tara Funk Grim.  Register by December 19 to reserve your size!
• Post-race breakfast, featuring tasty Publix treats – muffins & bagels with all the trimmings; bananas & bananas; yogurt; coffee and a few surprises.
• Medals will be given for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each age group, plus special awards for male and female overall, masters, grand masters, and senior masters.
• Door prizes including weekends for two at South Seas Resort, Inns of Sanibel; Garmin GPS watch; Brooks running shoes; Theater and symphony tickets; Art classes; gift certificates for great meals and excursions and so much more.
• Free runners-only parking will be available at West First Street and Carson Street. Park all day and enjoy ArtFest!
• Professional bib timing services by 3D Racing, provides results posted as soon as the race is finished.

Being one of the first organizations to start assembling a race team Lydia Black, Executive Director Alliance for the Arts said “Sports and Arts are both key ingredients of the health and vitality of our communities and the people who live in them. It’s great to see these two important activities coming together in one event to celebrate health, wellness, play and creation!”

Publix Run To The Arts welcomes non-runners as race day volunteers! All volunteers will get a cool Publix Run To The Arts staff shirt, breakfast on race day, raffle entry, and preferred parking.

Run to the Arts is made possible by the generous support of Publix a 12 year sponsor of ArtFest Fort Myers who is carrying on its tradition of being the kind of company a community can count on. Publix invites you to start your day with an invigorating run or walk and a healthy breakfast … then feed your mind and spirit at ArtFest Fort Myers.

ArtFest Fort Myers, the annual juried fine art festival, takes place February 6, 7 & 8, 2015 in the Fort Myers River District. Join the experience with 215 professional artists from across the county and around the world; the largest high school art exhibit and competition in south Florida and free interactive art experiences for children of all ages.

For more information visit RunToTheArts.com or connect with the race or the art festival on Facebook  and Linkedin.   #artfestfm   #artfestrun

ArtFest Fort Myers, Southwest Florida’s premier fine art festival, won accolades at the recent International Festival & Events Association Convention in Kansas City. Thousands of event professionals from around the globe gather each year to learn, share and honor the accomplishments of those who demonstrate excellence.

“We are thrilled to be in the company of such prestigious events and be recognized as one of the best,” explains Sharon McAllister, ArtFest Fort Myers Executive Director. “It was an honor to bring home six awards from IFEA.”

The ArtFest Fort Myers award winning categories included:

Best Event/Program within an Event to Benefit a Cause for: Seahorse Dreams Project Benefiting Golisano Children’s Hospital

Best Miscellaneous On-Site Décor for: VIP Tent at Friday Night Opening

Best Sponsorship Program for a Sponsor: Art Under 20 Competition (high school art students) with Florida SouthWestern State College (formerly Edison State College)

Best Ad Series featuring the work of local graphic designer, Janine Giovinazzi from Dzine Studio

Best Outdoor Billboard for: Featuring the Publix Art Yard

Best T-Shirt Design featuring the artwork of Tara Funk Grim

ArtFest Fort Myers, the annual juried fine art festival, takes place February 6, 7 & 8, 2015 in the Fort Myers River District. Join the experience with 215 professional artists from across the county and around the world; the largest high school art exhibit and competition in south Florida and free interactive art experiences for children of all ages.

For more information visit ArtFestFortMyers.com – Like Us on Facebook  – Connect with us on Linkedin   #artfestfm

Jordan Husar has joined the Art Fest Fort Myers team as their Marketing & Sponsor Service Intern for the 2015 art festival. Jordan, an avid photographer and winner of the 2014 Digital Lee competition, is currently a student at Southern Technical College. She looks forward to implementing her digital design and marketing skills while working closely with ArtFest’s Executive Director, Sharon McAllister, on many aspects of the art festival.

ArtFest Fort Myers, the annual juried fine art festival, takes place February 6, 7 & 8, 2015 in the Fort Myers River District. Join the experience with 215 professional artists from across the county and around the world; the largest high school art exhibit and competition in south Florida and free interactive art experiences for children of all ages.

For more information visit ArtFestFortMyers.com – Like Us on Facebook  – Connect with us on Linkedin  #artfestfm

ArtFest Fort Myers, Southwest Florida’s premier art festival, welcomes Rachel Burttram as their Production Manager, charged with the creation and implementation of key festival elements. “We are happy to welcome Rachel back to Fort Myers”, explained Sharon McAllister, ArtFest Executive Director. “She brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to our art festival and has demonstrated a positive impact on our community.”

Best known locally as a stage and screen actress – she is a company member of the Florida Repertory Theatre and was named “Best Actress 2013” by Florida Weekly – Burttram also has a strong arts administrative background. “I am looking forward to working with the great team of volunteer Operations Steering Committee members,” says Rachel Burttram. She added, “Heidi Taulman (Executive Director of Builders Care), Kirk Woodbury (Coldwell Banker Real Estate Broker) and Diana Giraldo (Managing Partner, Ecourban Consulting) make up that core, and we are currently recruiting community members who are interested in joining our volunteer leadership team, as we bring the art festival to life!”

ArtFest Fort Myers, the annual juried fine art festival, takes place February 6, 7 & 8, 2015 in the Fort Myers River District. Join the experience with 215 professional artists from across the county and around the world; the largest high school art exhibit and competition in south Florida and free interactive art experiences for children of all ages.

For more information call 239-768-3602, visit ArtFestFortMyers.com – Like Us on Facebook  – Connect with us on Linkedin  #artfestfm