The Third Thursday Art Walk in the Town Center is Aug. 19 from 5:30 to 8 p.m., celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Mercer Island Arts Council. For 25 years the Council has been bringing art and cultural events to Mercer Island residents, and many have become Island traditions such as Shakespeare in the Park, Mostly Music in the Park and the encouragement of art throughout Island life. The Council has established art galleries, purchased public art for outdoors, held musicals, cabarets and an all-Island book club. Literary evenings with talks about Shakespeare and classic films have become favorites. More recently, the Council helped establish the Third Thursday events in the Town Center by working with the business community.

On Thursday there will be art, snacks and sidewalk vendors all along the route marked on the Third Thursday maps.

Three bands will perform: Route 66 Swing Band, at the Aljoya patio; BakaRata Steel Drum Band, around the pool at The Mercer; and the Black Ant Army Band, at the 78th Avenue Plaza. Karaoke will be featured at the southeast corner of The Mercer. A kids’ sidewalk chalk art contest will be held in the parking lot of the Covenant Church. A special art show, “Art in the Windows,” will appear at 77 Central. It will feature art posters of artists for Mercer Island Visual Arts League.

At the plaza, there will also be prints of the designs for the banners soon to be appearing around the Town Center. At 7:30 p.m. the plaza will hold the ceremony to introduce the original and current Council members. State representative Judy Clibborn, an original member, will attend, as will former Mercer Island city manager, Larry Rose, who started the first Arts Council.