First annual GET!DOWNTOWN turns Main into a huge Street Festival

Live Music - Street Performers - Crafters - Vendors - Food - Shopping - Karaoke Grafitti Wall - Giveaways - Dancing in the Street After Party at The Academy of Fine Arts and The White Hart Cafe, plus more!

Lynchburg VA, August 20, 2009 - On the night of September 11, 2009 Downtown Lynchburg will come alive like never before. As a way to say "Welcome Back" and "Welcome To" Lynchburg to students attending the area's 6 Colleges/Universities, this event is something that is planned to become an annual event.

Main Street will be closing at 5:30pm on Friday, September 11, 2009 as food, retail, and informational vendors start moving their tents and booths into the street in preparation for students and the general public to converge on downtown for the party. Crafters will begin setting up their wares in the Lynchburg Community Market parking lot and downtown businesses will prepare to welcome visitors to their stores.

Entertainment will run rampent for the event with a stage being erected in the the Market parking lot where bands and performers from each of the Colleges will be performing from 6pm-9pm. Each College chose entertainment to represent them on stage. There will also be Salsa and Line Dance lessons offered in between band breaks as well as a DJ spinning dance music. At the other end of Main there will be karaoke where anyone who wants to show their voice off can step up to the mic and entertain the crowd.

With vendors lining Main Street and entertainment at both ends, the community will also be able to enjoy roaming performers. 2 Graffiti Walls are being set up, giving people the chance to express themselves with paint. These walls will find a permanent home downtown after the event for everyone to view. There will also be tons of giveaways throughout the night from vendors and sponsors. 250 event t-shirts will be given out at a secret location downtown. Followers on Twitter and Facebook will receive clues where to find the giveaway location that night.

Admission and parking is free for the event and carpooling is recommended. GET!DOWNTOWN is also an alcohol free event. After the Street Festival ends, downtown will light up with restaurants and bars offering specials and live music. The Academy of Fine Arts will hold a concert with local favorite Paul Brunett, and band Farewell Flight whom will be making a stop on their 2009 tour for us. The concert begins at 9pm with tickets being $5 with college ID and $10 for general public. There are only 600 tickets offered for this exclusive show. The White Hart Cafe will hold an intimate, no cover charge, concert with Newport News band Westbound.

More entertainment and surprises are being added daily and is updated at www.getdowntownlynchburg.com. Vendor applications are still being accepted as are sponsorships.

GET!DOWNTOWN is being hosted and sponsored by:
Central Virginia Community College
Clarke, Inc.
Liberty University
Lynchburg College
Lynch's Landing
MDK Studio
Office of Economic Development
Randolph College
Sweet Briar College
The Academy of Fine Arts
The City of Lynchburg
The Marketing Partnership
Virginia Downtown Development Association
Virginia University of Lynchburg
Young Professionals of Central Virginia