Local artists, jewelry makers and performers gather together every other Thursday on Cypress Street in Downtown Abilene to support the arts, and the event is entirely free.

The Center for Contemporary Arts presents the festival with support from The Grace Museum, the Cockerell Galleries and Studios, the Historic Paramount Theatre and other local businesses.

Last year, Lily Auker, a sophomore public relations major from San Angelo, attended a few of the spring events.

“ArtWalk is a great way to build relationships with businesses in Abilene,” Auker said. “The art community in Abilene is very rich and diverse, and it’s important as students to support the art community of Abilene.”

Thursday, Sept. 11 is ArtWalk: Thanks for the Memories. Events such as the Cake Walk and food truck competition will benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. With brand new sculpture and watercolor exhibits on display at the Center, they will also be showing artwork created by Alzheimer’s patients in the upstairs of the gallery.

This week offers a variety of galleries open and free for viewing, free music by Paris Pittman in Minter Park and dancing along Cypress Street by Fly Dance Company of Houston. Heart-to-heart Dancers will perform as well.

Downtown establishments The Beehive, Abi-Haus, Fat Boss’s Pub, and Monk’s Coffee Shop will all be open as usual for people to purchase food and drink.

Though the event will be entertaining and captivating, its main purpose is to remember this week’s cause of Alzheimer’s awareness by wearing purple. By doing this, you can represent ACU as active members of the Abilene community and in support of the awareness for a local cause.