Friday evening, Ames residents will have the opportunity to explore Main Street businesses like never before.

The annual Art Walk allows the community to get better acquainted with local artisans as well as have the chance to peruse the many specialty shops downtown, such as Antique Ames, 203 Main St.

Carol Jacobs, owner of Antique Ames, is excited for this year’s festivities. Jacobs says the Art Walk has given her the opportunity to incorporate local art work into her business.

“I was an art student at Iowa, so this is kind of dear to my heart,” Jacobs says. “The Art Walk was originally more limited to the galleries downtown, and now it’s interesting that all these other businesses are getting involved. We have been looking at doing more with art here at the store, so I thought this might be a good opportunity to start displaying more artwork.”

Antique Ames will initiate a guest artist program on Friday, which will feature work from local artists displayed in the store. Jacobs decided to kick off the program with pieces from one of the shop’s own, longtime employee and ISU student, Sara Kummerfeldt.

Kummerfeldt, senior in anthropology, has worked at Antique Ames for the last three years, but this will be the first time she gets to display her art in the shop.

“I’ve got really strong ties to the store and the family that owns it. It’s kind of my home away from home, and I’m happy to be a part of it,” Kummerfeldt says.

“My art sort of fits in with the things in the store, because it is reflective of my background and is very family-oriented, much like antiques.”

The art Kummerfeldt will showcase includes handmade books, drawings, and paintings she has created during the last two years. Although she hasn’t decided exactly what to display, at least six or seven of her works will be on exhibit.

The annual Art Walk is organized by the Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Ave., and the Main Street Cultural District and is intended to foster interest in both local artists and Ames businesses.

Kummerfeldt says both artists and organizations benefit by gaining exposure and potential customers, and the stores and studios attract people that never would have entered the establishment otherwise.

“It’s a great, great opportunity for both the artists and the downtown shops,” Kummerfeldt says. “It’s a way to promote downtown and get people interested and inside the shops. Even if customers don’t buy something that night, they may come back the next time they need something to do.”

There will be plenty to do Friday night, starting with the Tom Evans Plaza stage featuring music, dance and drama performances by local groups and individuals. Varied acts such as The Dixieland Band, The Onion Creek Cloggers and the Mirage Middle Eastern Belly Dance Troupe will perform.

Art will not only be displayed, but created on-site at several locations, and observers can watch jewelry making at Savvy Shopper, 310 Main St., watercolor painting at Jet Print, 301 Main St., or participate in creating their own musical instrument at Rieman Music, 417 Douglas Ave.

Carol Jacobs says this year’s Art Walk will draw more attention than ever.

“I think there’s some really exciting things happening downtown,” Jacobs says. “This is an event that just has a real appeal across the ages. I think it’s something that students would be interested in as well as adults.”