Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer will kickoff Gibson Orlando GuitarTown this weekend in Downtown Orlando at a free community event with live music, fun and festivities presented by Gibson Guitar, the City of Orlando and sponsors.

In addition to the Orlando GuitarTown project, Gibson Guitar has previously held three other GuitarTown projects in London, England; Austin, Texas and Nashville, Tennessee.

Orlando GuitarTown is a public arts project in Downtown Orlando featuring 36 ten-foot tall fiberglass guitars and a series of 36 regular size guitars artistically designed and colorfully painted by local and nationally acclaimed visual artists and placed throughout Downtown in front of City landmarks, sponsor locations and other popular destinations for several months.

The project has united the Orlando art, music, and business communities behind the opportunity to raise proceeds for local charities. Each guitar sculpture is partnered with a celebrity and backed by a corporate sponsor. The visual art showcase will end in early 2009 with a gala auction hosted by world renowned Juliens Auctions with all proceeds benefitting four local charities, The Downtown Arts District, Parramore Kids Zone, the Central Florida Commission on Homelessness and Page 15. The Downtown Arts District, Inc. At the same time, this innovative artistic display continues to further Orlando as one of the great cultural hubs in the nation and internationally.

For the kickoff event this weekend, all the decorated guitars will be on display at City Hall. Thirty-six large guitars will be displayed outside City Hall, and 36 small guitars will be on display inside the City Hall foyer.

The event and concert is free and open to the public and all ages are welcome. Food and beverage will be available for purchase through-out the event.
 

Event bands include: Big 10-4, John Frank, Gerry Williams Band, Christian Wilson & the Wayward Sons and Thomas Wynn & The Believers
 

Saturday, September 20, 2008
3 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Mayor media window: 4:30 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.