NASHUA – This weekend, the city’s downtown will be bustling with the sounds of live entertainment, the sites of visual arts and the aroma of food as the 13th annual ArtWalk Weekend gets underway.

The event is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.

More than 100 local and area artists and musical entertainers will be spread out from Pine Street to Temple Street and from Abbott Street to West Pearl Street and everywhere in between.

Artists will include Casey Batten, Deb Auclair, Douglas Huntley, Madeleine LaRose, Sid Ceaser, Stephen Topia, Susan King, Diana Boyle, Mandy Halford, Ken Gidge, Dominique Boutaud, Lotus Lien and Tracy Hayes, just to name a few.

Paintings, sculptures, jewelry and photography are but of few of the medium that will be on display during the two-day event.

Live mural painting, rug hooking, puppet shows and the music of Decatur Creek, Robert Allwarden and Tristan Ormond also will be highlights of the jam-packed weekend.

“I think this year is going to be pretty great,” said Nona Alexander, the program coordinator for the event. “We have some new things, venues, activities and new groups sponsoring events.”

“There also are a lot of groups and artists coming back,” Alexander added. “The Nashua Community Music School does this obstacle course and drum circle. Kids and adults loved this interactive music activity that is over at the library.”

This year, The Telegraph will be hosting the Gate City Charter School’s artwork and Heart Silent Auction from noon to

3 p.m. on Saturday

“We are excited to have The Telegraph participate,” Alexander said. “This and a lot of other events are brand-new this year. We are excited to have new and different things for people to do. It’s the same format and same general idea each year, but we always try to add something new.”

Several local restaurants also will be participating, with special creations just for ArtWalk Weekend, which is spearheaded by City Arts Nashua.

Participants include, The City Room Cafe, Fratello’s Ristorante Italiano, Giant of Siam, O’Brien’s Sports Bar, Riverside Barbeque Co. and The Peddler’s Daughter.

“People are very excited,” Alexander said. “There are a lot of returning artists and also a lot of young artists, students and college students. The event is a really good way for them to showcase their work to a lot of people.”

“A lot of young and up-and-coming artists can’t necessarily afford a gallery or a studio. This way, they can go out and get in front of thousands of people coming through downtown. It is a very supportive community to start out in and showcase your work. People of all different skill levels will be here. It’s a positive group. Nashua is a very arts-friendly city. I think people, in general, are very excited about this event.

Sponsors for the event are the Nashua Arts Commission; with presenting sponsors, 30 Temple Street, R.J. Finlay & Co.; media sponsor, The Telegraph; and supporting sponsors the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce, Redfin,

Idea Benders, M&C, Banyan Tree Yoga and alphagraphics.