What: Art on the Ave arts festival

Where: 6th Avenue between Cedar and Trafton Streets, Tacoma

When: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday

Cost: free

Information: 253-651-2414, www.artontheave.org

Interview with: Carla Hall, coordinator

What’s Art on the Ave?

The arts festival along 6th Avenue, now in its 11th year, celebrates local artists, musicians, performers, restaurants, schools and more.

Who organizes it?

The 6th Avenue Merchants Association.

What’s new this year?

This year, the theme is fashion. In the site under the trees we’ll have an actual stage this year, set up for two runway shows to showcase 21 local designers with 52 models, more than 100 outfits and a fashion lounge.

In between the shows, there will be Shakespeare in the Parking Lot, dancers from Grant Elementary, magic acts by Mario Lorenz, clowns, a string trio from UPS and Celtic band Jug of Punch.

What are the other highlights?

In our dunk tank this year are local politicians like Marty Campbell, Jim Merritt and Tim Farrell, Ed Troyer from the Pierce County sheriff department, municipal judge David Ladenburg and some 6th Ave merchants.

We’ll have a small car show, live music like Vicci Martinez, Ben Union and StarStruck, a beer garden, a lot of food vendors including some new ones from the Farmers’ Markets, and many art vendors.

What about the street mural octopus done last year, that’s fading a bit?

In keeping with the Public Works Department rule, the mural paint isn’t permanent, so it does wear because of the high traffic. We’re looking into something new, but the tricky part is closing the intersection and finding volunteers. We won’t do it this time.

Rosemary Ponnekanti, The News Tribune