Three popular Pasadena events are scheduled back to back, promising a weekend chock full of free art, music, food and entertainment that everyone can enjoy.

 

First is the four-hour ArtNight on Friday night, when Pasadena’s most prominent arts and cultural institutions open their doors to showcase free art exhibitions and installations, films, live music and dance performances. Free shuttles will run throughout the evening, stopping at each venue. 

 

Some of the most anticipated exhibits include “Energy,” a glimpse into the forces that shape us and make us who we are, showing at the Art Center College of Design’s Williamson Gallery; “Steve Roden: In Between, A 20 Year Survey,” the first survey of the artist’s work in all its divergent forms, including sound, and NewTown’s “Convergences,” presenting 11 artists who integrate digital media, sculpture and installation, showing at the Armory Center for the Arts; 24 original works from Pasadena City College’s Artist in Residence program, 1987-2010, including a hidden treasure of contemporary art at Shatford Library; and Don Farber’s “The Dalai Lama and His People,” photography and book signing, and four Taiko drumming performances at the Shumei Arts Council.

 

These exhibits and shows will be joined by many more during ArtNight, which more than 14,000 people experienced last year.

 

Then at Saturday’s South Lake Avenue 2nd Annual Food and Wine Festival guests can enjoy mouth-watering offerings from 15 restaurants, live radio broadcasts and food demonstrations and tastings, with special guest appearances by longtime food commentator Melinda Lee and Cindy Dole, with music provided by K-EARTH 101. The event is sponsored by the South Lake Business Association, Pacific Sales, KNX 1070 News Radio and KFWB News Talk 980.

 

Later that day art explorations continue with ARTWalk, a six-hour urban art fair in the city’s Playhouse District. More than 30 of the best Southern California artists will showcase their work in painting, sculpture, watercolor, photography, mixed media, ceramics, jewelry, drawings and printmaking.

 

The organizers are still finalizing the list of jazz, blues and pop music performances in and around the Playhouse Courtyard, but look for some holdovers from the Make Music Pasadena festival.

 

This weekend, you can enjoy art in various mediums across the city, go to sleep and then wake up and have a chance to do it all over again, only at different venues.