RACINE - While East Sixth Street has always been a part of the family fun that is Party on the Pavement, it will take on an expanded role this year by melding its annual Art Walk with Downtown's premiere street festival. More than 50 artists will set up shop along Sixth Street during Saturday afternoon's Party on the Pavement and many of them will be de-monstrating techniques ranging from Raku firing of ceramics to the art of glass blowing.

Tradi-tionally held in the spring, the Art Walk was postponed this year due to construction along Sixth Street, explained Brad Jaeck, co-owner of the Photographic Design studio, 411 Sixth St., and one of the Art Walk's organizers. When the offer to combine the annual art event with Party on the Pavement was made, organizers were grateful for the opportunity, Jaeck said.

"We are excited to be a part of all of this," he said. "We went into it not knowing if we could get enough people to exhibit at this time of year, but the response has been absolutely fantastic. We're up to 53 artists with a little bit of everything from jewelry to watercolor, photography and woodworking - and they are coming from northern Illinois all the way up to Cedarburg."

Sherry Lou Martin of Racine is one such exhibitor. A multi-medium artist who does fine woodcarving, painting and glass mosaics, Martin will be demonstrating one of her newest talents - chain saw woodcarving - during the event. She and Dave Harbach, of Caledonia, plan to carve a pumpkin totem pole and a snowman using their chain saws during the Party on the Pavement/Art Walk.

Working with a chain saw is something that Martin said she started doing a couple years ago "just for kicks." The artist soon found that she enjoyed this type of woodworking enough to continue it, along with her other mediums.

"It allows me to work a lot faster than the fine carving techniques, and you don't have to get so detailed in your work," said Martin, whose woodworking and love of nature were inspired by her father who was a game warden and taxidermist. For more about this award-winning wood carver, go to: http://www.xanga.com/sherrylouart

Inside out

While there will be plenty to do outside, don't forget to look inside some of the galleries and shops for activities as well during Party on the Pavement. Inside Photographic Design at 411 Sixth St., for example, you'll find the Digital Doctors - two photographers dressed in surgical attire whose job for the day is to help people learn to use their digital cameras. Jaeck, who will be one of the "doctors" for a day, is encouraging people to bring their camera, as well as samples of their prints and any questions they may have.

"We want to help people learn about their cameras," he said.

The Sixth Street Theatre will be offering a free theater festival inside its doors at 318 Sixth St. during the Party. Three short, original comedies (appropriate for all ages) will be performed in repertory from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Reservations will only be taken at the door on performance day.

If all that art and activity makes you hungry, fear not. Actors from the Over Our Head Players will be grilling brats and hot dogs outside the theater and all proceeds from their sale will benefit the OOHP.

The OOHP Brat fry is one of more than 25 food vendors and restaurants that will be offering edibles for sale along Sixth Street and over on Main Street, where the rest of the Party on the Pavement will be taking place.

Riding high

The Art Walk is one of several new features at the Party, which draws an average of more than 15,000 people to Downtown each year with its mix of live entertainment, good eats and hands-on activities for all ages.

One of the most noticeable additions will be a 45-foot Ferris wheel that will set up shop on Monument Square. This ride, which will cost one ticket, just might be the best seat in the house for taking in all of the action.

Party on the Pavement will also offer its usual array of attractions from petting zoos and camel rides to a 40-foot Spider-Man obstacle course and costumed characters from "Star Wars" and the Milwaukee Brewers' Racing Sausages. Throughout it all, there will be plenty of live music flowing from five stages featuring everything from rock and roll to Celtic, blues and funk.

One of the highlights will be a children's show by Hans Mayer, whose newest CD, "Funny Little Creatures," recently earned a 2008 Parents' Choice Approved Award.

Mayer, who has performed for audiences across the country, will play at noon on the acoustic music stage in the 300 block of Main Street. His performance is a mix of music and humor, featuring guitar, mandolin and Native American flute. For more about Mayer, go to:

http://www.hansmayer.com

Other musical acts include: The Boogie Men, the Dave Fitzpatrick Band, Fourcast, the Jeff Ward Band, Mark Paffrath, the MITs, 89 Mojo, Roy Edwards and Group Therapy, the Reinforcements, the Sweet Tarts, Saturday Night Preachers.

Titus, Rench & Wheary, Weapons of Mass Destruction, the Westside Winders (featuring Guitar Superstar 2008 finalist Dan Peters) and Zachary Scot Johnson.

If You Go

WHAT: Party on the Pavement & Sixth Street Art Walk

WHEN: Noon to 7 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Main and Sixth street in Downtown

COST: Free admission.

INFO: Go to http://www.racinedowntown.com