Eye-Full of Paris Weekend Moves Date, Adds Events

(June 26, 2008)  The second annual Eye-full of Paris weekend moves from June to September in 2008 adding an extra day of events. Sponsored by the Paris-Henry County Arts Council and the Downtown Paris Association, the festival includes three days of visual and performing arts activities during the last weekend in September.

Eye-full of Paris kicks off with Commercial Bank’s Noon on the Square concert, Friday September 26 on the lawn of Henry County’s historic courthouse.

That evening, Friends of the Wildlife Refuge host their second annual Wild for Life Art Show and Sale at Lee Academy for the Arts. Exhibits include photography, painting, sculpting and carving that depict the region’s stunning creatures and scenery.

On Saturday, September 27, Arts Round the Square ramps up on the court house lawn. Myriad artists, including potters, painters, quilters, stain glass and fabric artists, and photographers demonstrate and sell their wares throughout the day as a variety of musicians perform on the lawn. Children’s theatre members also will be on site to entertain the crowds. Special musical activities, as well as hands-on art demonstrations will engage and amuse youngsters, and hungry event-goers will enjoy the delicious local food offerings.

The second evening of Eye-full of Paris concludes in the new performance space at Lee Academy for the Arts with a concert sponsored by Friends of the Refuge. Event-goers can get a second look at the Wild for Life Art Show and Sale in the academy’s main hall.

The weekend concludes on Sunday afternoon with a concert at Henry County’s newest tourist destination, Paris Winery. Event goers are invited to bring a picnic basket and get comfortable as the day cools down, the music heats up and the wine flows. A friendly competition among picnic sites livens up the final evening.

The annual festival began with the Paris-Henry County Arts Council’s first Arts Round the Square (ARTS) in June, 2006. Held on the courthouse lawn, ARTS was a major success. When the council partnered with the Downtown Paris Association last year, the site and dates were expanded, the event was renamed and received funding from the Tennessee River Resort Act. The 2008 event boasts new energy and activities from Friends of the Wildlife Refuge, Commercial Bank and Paris Winery.

The rain location for all events on the square is the First United Methodist Church Christian Life Center. A call for artists and vendors will be announced soon.