The fabulous and free 14th annual Lower East Side Festival of the Arts, Friday to Sunday, May 22 to 24, kicks off the weekend early with the Wednesday, May 20 art opening reception, 5:30 pm to 8 pm, at the Theater for the New City Gallery, 155 First Avenue between 9th and 10th Streets. Around fifty downtown visual artists representing photography, sculpture, painting and mixed media will have their works on exhibit until June 30.

The three-day weekend celebration features theater and dance groups, performance artists, youth and kids groups, writers, musicians, filmmakers and poets, who all represent the great cultural mix of this artistic community. Most performances will take place outside the Theater for the New City, in addition to plentiful food and vendors, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 6 pm to 1 am, and Saturday 11 am to 6 pm. Inside, the youth program will hold court from 2 pm to 5pm, Saturday afternoon only, as well as film and video showings from 12 pm to midnight, all three evenings.

For more information: www.theaterforthenewcity.net