The Dempsey Challenge is pleased to announce an exciting community event that will take place in the late afternoon and early evening on Friday, October 12. The Inaugural Dempsey Challenge Community Celebration has been planned and coordinated in collaboration with Art Walk Lewiston Auburn, L/A Arts and Captive Elements Art House. Downtown Lisbon Street, Lewiston and the surrounding area will be the location for a very special Art Walk incorporating art in its various forms to illustrate a theme of hope, healing and survival.

The Dempsey Challenge Community Celebration, which will take place the day before the run/walk and cycling events, serves as an opportunity for Lewiston Auburn to showcase the best of what they have to offer to the thousands of visitors and national media in the area while also providing an evening of entertainment to all who venture out from near and away to explore L/A.
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Artists involved with the Dempsey Challenge Community Celebration are: Terry Grasse, Helen Warren, Penny Hood, Scott Ainsworth, Jane Pronovost, Angie Blevins, Laura Tasheiko, Matthew Barter, Linda Nichos Phillips, Isaac Marston, Joanna Reese, June Roberts, Lois Hill, Herenya Wiley, Corey LaFlamme, Priscilla Cross, Maria Castellano-Usery, Anne Breau, Erika Jordan, Darylann Leonard, Tegan Lake, Stephanie Berry, Jeffrey Jacques, Tookie Bright, Anne Labbe, Don Bernard, Dinah Harris, Pat Collins, Louella Hood, Megan Patry, Mary Schmaling-Kearns, Nel Bernard and Paul Baribault.

The venues for art work included in the Dempsey Challenge Community Celebration are: Captive Elements Art House (223 Lisbon St), L/A Art (221 Lisbon St.), the Lewiston Public Library (200 Lisbon St, Lewiston), Forage Market (180 Lisbon St), Lamey Wellehan Building (110 Lisbon St), Rainbow Bikes (97 Lisbon St), The Vault (84 Lisbon St), Androscoggin Bank (30 Lisbon St), The Atrium at Bates Mill (35 Canal St), She Don’t Like Guthries (115 Middle St).

More than just gorgeous pieces of art work, the Dempsey Challenge Community Celebration will incorporate a variety of live music and spoken word at various venues in the downtown area from 5-8:30pm.
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Musicians/groups to be included with the Dempsey Challenge Community Celebration are comprised of Spoken Word by the Edward Little Debate Team, the Youth Orchestra of Lewiston Auburn, The Band Apollo, Bryan Laurier, Carolyn Currie, Kristen Short, Pan Fried Steel, Felix Weatherbee, Temple Rocks, Barbara Oliver & Mark Nordberg and Broken 51. There will also be a very special demonstration by a Dempsey presenting artist, Mary Schmaling-Kearns, of the art of henna tattooing at 6:45PM in the Lamey Wellehan Gallery Space.

Guests of the Dempsey Challenge Community Celebration should also keep their eyes open for a very special surprise…the rumblings of a flash mob, perhaps?

At the Atrium at Bates Mill
6:15PM: Youth Orchestra of Lewiston Auburn
6:45PM: Broken 51
7:45PM: Arborea

Callahan Hall at the Lewiston Public Library
6:15PM: Pan Fried Steel
7:15PM: The Band Apollo
7:45PM: The Temple Rocks

The DownStage at L/A Arts
5PM: Spoken Word by Edward Little High School Debate Team
6:15PM: Kristen Short
7PM: Bryan Laurier
7:45PM: Carolyn Currie

Community Gallery at L/A Arts
5PM: Barbara Oliver and Mark Nordberg (Baroque Strings)

BatesDowntown at 22 Park St.
5PM: Felix Weatherbee
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In addition to the many art galleries and performances of the Dempsey Challenge Community Celebration, several Lewiston Auburn restaurants and businesses are offering special promotions and/or food and beverage tastings. A “cash mob” will meet at 5PM in Journal Alley as part of the celebration in an effort to create an economic impact in a selected locally-owned business. L/A Magazine will be open as the Peloton Project Welcome Party. The Peloton Project is a documentary film that will follow the lives of nearly 40 cyclists as they prepare to take on this year’s Cancervive Peloton Project. To learn more about the Peloton Project visit L/A Magazine’s website at la-mag.com.

To top off a wonderful evening of art, performance and celebration, an official “after-party” will be held at Gritty’s Auburn, 68 Main St, with Courage Ale on tap and live music by the Jason Spooner Trio until midnight.