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The City of Berkeley and the Downtown Berkeley Association will mark the grand opening of the Downtown Arts District with a celebration Sunday Aug. 24 on the 2000 block of Addison Street, between Milvia Street and Shattuck Avenue. 

Events will include an outdoor stage with performances by well-known bands such as Mingus Amungus, an indoor stage with live music and theater performances, as well as arts, crafts, children’s entertainment and food. 

The Addison Street Arts District was financed in part by Measure S, a voter approved bond issue, and has become a nationally recognized model for art-based downtown revitalization. 

A dozen projects have already been installed in the area, including two major sculptures, one near the entrance of the district and the other at the nearby BART station. 

Upcoming projects include an installation of more than 120 iron and ceramic poetry panels that will be placed in the sidewalk with poetry selected by poet laureate Robert Hass.  

Events run all day from noon to 7 p.m. Some are free and the rest can be accessed with a $5 all-day pass. For more information and a full schedule of events, see the insert in today’s Daily Planet.  

—Jakob Schiller