Art takes a walk through downtown Sparta

Downtown Sparta will become a little more colorful Friday evening as ARTSparta hosts its first Artwalk.

The new event is set for Friday, Sept. 18, from 4-8 p.m. in downtown Sparta, coinciding with the Green Market.

For those wondering exactly what an Artwalk is, the idea is pretty simple: bring artists, local businesses, and the community together in one place.

Local artists will be set up inside participating downtown businesses throughout the evening, giving visitors a chance to meet the artists, see and purchase original work, and explore some of Sparta’s downtown shops and spaces along the way.

Rather than gathering everyone in one location, the Artwalk encourages visitors to make their way through downtown at their own pace. They can stop in to see the artwork, shop, grab dinner or coffee, and visit businesses they may not have been inside before.

The event is open to everyone, whether they are already familiar with Sparta’s local art community or are simply looking for something different to do Friday evening.

This will be ARTSparta’s first Artwalk, but organizers hope it is only the beginning and that bringing art into downtown businesses can become a Sparta tradition for years to come.