Art, music and the chance to learn more about culture had people from Pottsville and other areas in the city Friday.
"Take a chance and come out and see what the city and the artists have to offer," said Fredrick Hubler, co-chair of the sixth annual Block of Art.
Welcomed with warm temperatures, people mingled between the different locations that featured creativity of local artists.
Admiring a piece of art on the second floor of The Sage Coffeehouse & Tea Garden, Beth and George Yarnell, Pottsville, were impressed with a painting of a woman walking up a hill, called "I rise up, Not without help," by Sophia Kelly Shultz. They both said the detail was amazing.
"It looks like she's trying to climb to the top of something," George Yarnell said.
"It looks like she's found peace," Beth Yarnell said.
Others also found artists' attention to their projects impressive.
"I think the detail is beautiful. It's so realistic. It's almost as if you're in that room," said Frank Perron, Pottsville, as he looked at a painting done oil and tempra by Chris Mathias entitled "Eucalyptus" in a gallery on West Market Street.
Jayne O'Larry, 53, of Mount Carmel, reached out and almost touched the art with her hand. She knows the artist and has admired his work.
With schools cutting art and music programs from their budgets, the importance of introducing young people to the arts is important.
"It starts when they're young," O'Larry said.
Kay Jones, executive director of Schuylkill County's VISION, said attendance has increased since the effort started in 2007.
After explaining his oil on canvas artwork, Bob Stickloon, 66, of Pottsville, admired it a little more. At times, he used a magnifying glass to get the details of his creation, a typewriter, perfect.
"I'm always looking for the perfect brush," Stickloon said.
Jeremy Caruso, 17, a Blue Mountain High School senior, also submitted artwork for the event. He was one of several from the school who used various mediums to express themselves including ceramics and colored pencil.
"It distracts you," he said of immersing himself in his art.
His art and others from the school can be seen at the Diakon Living and Learning Gallery of Art, 201 N. Centre St.
The Peter Nein Galleries featured 16 rain barrels decorated for the "Art of Rain" barrel contest by the Schuylkill Headwaters Association, designed to promote water conservation. The barrels will be displayed in public places to educate the public, according to Schuylkill Headwaters website, schuylkillheadwaters.org.
Winners of the rain barrel contest will be announced today at 3 p.m.
One rain barrel said "Every Drop Counts," and was sitting on top of a brown piano in the gallery.
Peter Nein, owner, was more than willing to share his space with other creative people.
"Tonight, I'm celebrating everybody's genius," he said.
Cathy Repp, 56, of Pottsville, thought the idea for the contest was great.
"I think it's a great thing to bring awareness," she said.
She said Block of Art is a good way to spend time downtown, saying it was "nice to bring the community together."
The event continues today and Sunday. For more information, visit www.block-of-art.org.