By AARON MUELLER
Niles Daily Star

Twenty tons of sand, two dozen artists, four musical acts, a field of dozens of fake mushrooms and more than 50 brightly colored plastic flamingos.

That’s what people can expect Saturday for the fifth Arts in Motion event in downtown Niles.
Lisa Croteau, the director of Niles Main Street, describes the event as “quirky and fun” and unique to Niles.

“In the summer time there is a lot of competition,” she said. “It’s just a nice way for people from the community to spend a day with friends and family.”

New to this year’s event is the planting of a spore mushroom field. Members of the community will construct them out of paper bags and wire and decorate them with paint and crayons. They will then be “planted” in the ground in a group to form a field.

“My kids turned me on to the StumpleUpon website, and I found out about (spore mushrooms) from that,” Croteau said. “StumbleUpon stinks because you waste a lot of time, but you find really cool things.”

As usual, the event will also have a car available for everyone to take out their artistic frustrations on, along with the chalk the walk contest.

Arts in Motion will also feature about 26 artists creating and selling their work downtown, street performers and a professional carving team sculpting a 20-plus ton sand sculpture.

Musical performances by Emilee Allen, MJ Bishop, You’ll Dew and Cornmeal will take place from 4 until 10 p.m.

And of course the Four Flags Fanciful Flamingos, painted by artists, will be on display throughout downtown. After the event they will be sold to the highest bidder on eBay to support future events from Niles Main Street.

Croteau expects good turnout from the community.

“How often do you get to paint a car and not get in trouble for it? How often do you get to see a 20-ton sand sculpture?” Croteau said. “Everything is free or very inexpensive. From kids to grandparents, everyone enjoys it.”