Now in its 54th year, the M & T Bank Clothesline Festival is our city's longest-running fine arts and crafts festival. Taking place on the grounds of the Memorial Art Gallery (500 University Avenue), the event includes nearly 400 artists from New York state, food vendors, free family art activities, and live entertainment. The festival is open Saturday, September 11, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday, September 12, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. This year, in addition to the art and crafts, you can expect live performances by jazz groups, a belly dance troupe, and the Garth Fagan Dance School; visit clothesline.rochester.edu for the full entertainment schedule.

Admission to the festival is $5, and proceeds benefit the MAG. Tickets are available at the gate, at the MAG admission desk, and at Wegmans. A handicapped-accessible free shuttle bus will run from the East End Garage at East Main and Scio streets, and the Genesee Hospital garage on Alexander Street between East and Monroe avenues. Due to extremely limited space, there will be no public parking on the Gallery grounds, except to visitors with handicapped-accessible parking permits. For more information, call 276-8900.