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32 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday July 16, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Midnight Madness takes over downtown Oakville on Friday This Friday night the annual Midnight Madness event is expected to draw more than 50,000 people to downtown Oakville. The more than 30-year-old tradition, downtown Oakville's largest retail event, is not just about retail, but community spirit, entertainment and family fun. Residents are invited to shop the deals while strolling the streets amid an evening of entertainment. The fun will include free live music from more than 10 different groups representing music ranges from jazz, with The Don Bodanis Band, to Ultra Magnus, a 10-member Afrobeat group, or singer/song writer Darrelle London, as well as popular music by the Kings. Returning favorites include The Andy Earle Band. This group is a favorite with Oakville residents, and a treat to experience. Then there are the local favourites, like Volume who have been refining their talents under such greats as Toronto Blues Legend Ricky Day. Audiences will be entertained throughout the downtown on 10 stages, starting at 7:30 p.m. Stages include: Lakeshore Road at Navy Street; north Thomas Street; Towne Square; south and north Dunn Street; Lakeshore and Trafalgar roads; north and south Reynolds Street; Lakeshore Road at Allan Street; and, Lakeshore Road at Dunn Street. There will also be opportunity to visit booths of community organizations. There are 22 participating community organizations including: Rotary clubs of Oakville; Service Canada Centre for Youth; Oakville and District Humane Society; Thistle Oaks Child Care Centre; Oakville Santa Claus Parade; Autism Ontario; Kinsmen; Oakville Art Galleries; Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton (CCAH); and more. Families are encouraged to stop by the booths with their children to enjoy comedians, face painting, games and prizes. A free shuttle bus service will run every 15 minutes from the Oakville GO Station to Downtown Oakville beginning at 5:30 p.m. until 12:15 a.m. Midnight Madness is sponsored by the businesses and merchants in the Downtown Oakville Business Improvement Area and is sponsored in part by Scotiabank, ScotiaMcLeod, Budds' Saturn Saab, Country Inn By Carlson, The Oakville Club, Halton Trafalgar Travel, M For Men, Tocca Finita and the Town of Oakville. The Downtown Oakville Business Improvement Area is a non-profit organization that represents more than 450 Oakville businesses located between Allan, Church, Robinson, and Navy streets. The Downtown Oakville BIA is completely funded by those businesses. Its primary mission is to promote and enhance Downtown Oakville and to make improvements to municipally owned properties. For more information, call 905844-4520 or visit www.oakvilledowntown.com. Art show opening Oakville artists Mary Lyons and Mona Pykala will be exhibiting new mixed media work with a theme of sustenance/nourishment at the historic Sovereign House on the Bronte shoreline at 7 West River St. An opening reception will be held on July 19 from 7-10 p.m. The exhibit runs from July 19 to July 30 from 1-4 p.m. on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. A portion of sales supports Sovereign House's regular museum programming. For information, e-mail bohemianstyle@cogeco.ca.