The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

Art and History are the centerpieces of fall event

DAYTON - Last year, Dayton Chamber of Commerce Director Brad McMasters said he was surprised that more than seventy people were eligible for the special Art Crawl drawing. To become eligible, participants must visit every Art Crawl venue and get their program stamped.

This year, visits to at least fourteen locations, including galleries, restaurants and offices, will be required to qualify for the drawing. McMasters is expecting even more qualifiers.

Three artworks will be given away to the win- ners: a print by Dayton artist Steve Henderson, a print by Dayton photographer Nick Page and a beautiful Papa Jon Birdhouse.

The Art crawl is one of many free activities happening Saturday during this year's Dayton on Tour event. On North First Street, just off main, kids of all ages can enjoy the Fall Festival, with games, crafts, face painting and free horse and carriage rides by AJ Carriages. The rides are spon- sored by Pacific Power.

Several local museums will be open for free viewing, including the Dayton Historic Depot, the Boldman House Museum and the Palus Museum. American Legion Post #42 will also be open for tours, to view photographs and memorabilia of Dayton's members of the United States Armed Forces. The Post is located at 211 E. Clay St.

Bus tours will take visitors to tour Blue Moun- tain Station between 11 and 3.

The Dayton Historic Depot's annual Historic Homes Tour will be offered between 1 and 4 p.m. Three Dayton residences, plus the Smith Hollow School House and the Liberty Theater Annex are on the tour this year. Tickets and a map for the self-guided tour are $10 and are available at the Depot.

From 4 to 5 p.m., a special art and wine event will be held upstairs in the Depot. Local artists who are showing their work in the Depot this fall will be on hand.

"After 5, we're encouraging visitors to go downtown and eat, drink and shop at our local businesses," McMasters said. He's hoping for a bigger and better crowd than ever.

A complete Dayton on Tour schedule can be found on Page 6, or at www.historicdayton.com. For more information, call the Dayton Historic Depot at (509) 382-4825.