Event creates colorful banners for Main Street

By Glenn McGlothlin

glenn.mcglothlin@gmail.com

The 15th annual Paint the Town banner event offers the community a place where everyone of all artistic abilities can gather together to paint.

With two sessions scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon and 2 to 5 p.m., Thursday, June 28, the event will take place in the blue building located at the Jessamine County City-County Park, located at 402 Park Drive in Nicholasville.

Applications are now being accepted, and those who wish to participate can do so by filling out and returning an application to the Jessamine County Courthouse, located at 107 N. Main St., or the Jessamine County Chamber of Commerce, located at 116 S. Main St.

“Everything is provided,” Jessamine County Fiscal Court magistrate Justin Ray said. “Just bring your imagination. I think it’s a great opportunity for our citizens to express their artistic talents and enhance our downtown when their banners hang on display.”

Ray said the event is centered around fun. Each year, about 35 banners are made by roughly 70 participants, he said.

“It’s an opportunity where all walks of life from every level of artistic ability can gather for a day to just paint,” Ray said.

Ray, who admits he isn’t very artistic himself, said not being an artist is the key to the event.

“That’s what makes this event great,” Ray added. “Everyone is capable of making something awesome. Walking around during the day and watching blank banners turn into works of art is amazing.”

After the event, the banners will hang in storage for a few weeks to dry before they are hung on Main Street where they will stay until the holiday decorations replace them in the fall.

In previous years, Ray said the event was sponsored by Nicholasville Now!, whose sponsors were the City of Nicholasville, Jessamine County Fiscal Court and Nicholasville Tourism Commission.

Nicholasville Now! no longer exists, having disbanded and joined forces with Visit Jessamine, but Ray said the event will run as scheduled without any issues. He hopes Visit Jessamine will fully take over the event in the future.

“With our devoted volunteers plus remaining years of supplies, this year’s event will still move on without a problem,” Ray said.

For more information, contact Ray at 533-5184 or the county judge-executive’s office at 885-4500.