Mark your calendars for the first annual Connect to the ARTS festival, September 8-10. Connect to the ARTS will showcase the community's local artisans, musicians, events and arts groups, all under one umbrella. Here's what's happening: 

September 8

5:00-9:00 p.m.

Thursday Night Live will be back featuring three artists on stage and the 2nd Annual Soup Stock highlighting the culinary genius of local chefs.

September 9

7:00-9:00 p.m.

Missouri River Regional Library Concert on the Capitol Lawn. Music will be by the Hennessey Brothers jazz group.  

September 10

11:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.

Entertainment, jazz, art activities and special events will be happening throughout the day in the downtown area. The Labor Day Parade will start at 11:00 on High Street and proceed up Capital Avenue. A Kids Art Activities area will open at 11:00 a.m. near the Governor's Mansion. Jazzfest will offer a line-up of extraordinary jazz musicians on High Street from 1-8 p.m. Capital Arts Street Art will be ongoing with artists chalking on their concrete canvases. A variety of cultural arts talent in our community will be showcased with exhibits, demonstrations, roving performances and local food vendors. There will also be an area for arts-related organizations to disperse materials. In addition to listening to jazz, viewing local artisans displays and chalk art, the festival will offer a "Taste of Missouri" wine tasting event from 4:00-8:00 p.m. featuring wine from area vineyards.

Supported by a grant from the Missouri Arts Council, Parks and Recreation and corporate sponsorships, the Cultural Arts Commission is coordinating the festival as part of its mission to promote art of all types in the city. Festival planners look forward to bringing an economic boost to the downtown merchants, while at the same time creating a new, family-oriented venue for all ages. For more information, go to www.artsinjc.org. Information is also available at The Art Bazaar, 114 E. High Street. 

The Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau offers a variety of tours at the Missouri State Penitentiary.  So many types, in fact, that you might be a little confused about what you can do there, how much it costs, how long it takes and how to participate. Lucky for you, we've provided a cheat sheet below. If you still have questions, just call Sheila, the Bureau's prison tour coordinator, at (866) 998-6998. She will set you up!