Downtown Gainesville will be animated with a wave of paintings, crafts and art enthusiasts this weekend.
The 27th annual Downtown Festival & Art Show, which features local and national art and music, is expected to attract more than 100,000 attendees Saturday and Sunday, significantly boosting Gainesville's economy.
Event coordinator Linda Piper said business at hotels and restaurants near downtown should double Saturday and Sunday.
"When Gainesville's wide-open streets are filled with great art and music, tourists flock downtown," Piper said. "It's great for the city."
The event, presented by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, extends from City Hall to the Hippodrome State Theatre.
Ryan Hickey, a manager at Maude's Classic Cafe, said he is ready for the mass influx of customers this weekend with twice the amount of coffee and cookies in stock.
Hickey is hoping for even more success than last year when the cafe had about a 200 percent increase in profits during the event.
"It's stressful when you really scramble, but we are happy whenever lots of customers are rolling in," he said.
The event will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
