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It was a most unusual day indeed. 

In front of a small crowd of arts supporters, Mayor Shirley Dean and Councilmember Kriss Worthington – not exactly known as the best of friends – joined with other community leaders in a moderately rousing rendition of “It’s a Most Unusual Day” at the kickoff event for the Berkeley Arts Festival. 

“I do believe that this is what makes this a very special place,” the mayor said in brief remarks Monday before the ensemble sang. “Our commitment to the arts really sets this community apart.” 

The third annual festival will feature 14 days of various artistic events, from musicians performing on downtown streets to a multi-genre program for toddlers. 

“This is a great way to spotlight what a city full of talent this place is,” said Festival Director Bonnie Hughes. “We have so many different genres of art, and they’re often isolated from each other. This gives people a chance to meet each other, find out what other artists are doing, and perhaps even find ways to collaborate together on projects.” Last year’s festival ran for a month, but organizers decide to cut back the event to two weeks this year – May 1-14 – to make it a little less exhausting on the participants and coordinators. 

A unique feature of the 2000 festival will be the “Carefree Carfree Tours.” These tours will be an opportunity for visitors to explore the worlds of art and AC Transit. Visits are planned to such venues as the Berkeley Art Center, the Maybeck-designed First Church of Christ-Scientist, MusicSources, the Judah L. Magnes Museum and the KALA Art Institute. 

Hughes noted that other festival highlights will include the Downtown Music Circus on Saturday, the BART Plaza jazz concerts on Thursday and May 11, the “Tiny Feet and Baby Shoes” program for toddlers on May 13, and the festival finale “Satirathon” on May 14. That event will feature a wide range of humorists and satirists in a “free speech fiesta.” 

A complete list of Berkeley Arts Festival can be found online (www.berkeleyartsfestival.com), and daily updates are available by calling 510-841-1982. A list of this week’s events appears in today’s edition of the Daily Planet