The fifth annual ArtWalk on the Bay will take place Sept. 18 and 19 with one major change. The event, which is expected to draw more than 40,000 visitors, will take place at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Park, 1 Park Blvd. “For the past four years, the event was at Embarcadero Seaport North. It was stunning and beautiful,” said Sandi Cottrell, managing director for ArtWalk. “The biggest challenge with that venue is that it was difficult for parking.” Now, attendees can park in nearby structures or choose to take the trolley instead. There will be more than 140 unique artists participating within the 4-acre park, Cottrell said. Artists come from all over the country and from Mexico to participate in the event, which continues to grow in popularity. “It’s all in the fine art category,” said Cottrell of ArtWalk, which will showcase jewelry, oil paintings and sculpture among the many creations. The family-friendly event will feature musical entertainment and will have an interactive area for children to participate in everything from drum circles to drawing and painting. ArtWalk will welcome back many artists who have participated in prior years. “It’s always fun to see how their work has changed over the year and how their work evolves,” Cottrell said. She told the story of one artist from Mexico who recently started using brighter colors and she asked him what had changed over the course of the prior year. Then, she jokingly queried, “Did you fall in love?” “He just laughed and said, ‘Yes, I did, I got married,’” Cottrell said. ArtWalk gives art enthusiasts and curious browsers the opportunity to talk with an artist and ask questions about the work. “It really is very different than going into a store and buying a poster print,” Cottrell said. “You feel a connection to the artist.” Some artists return year after year with similar work, others might shift from creating sculpture to painting. “I’m going to have my traditional oil paintings and previews of some new stuff,” said Pete Tillack, a local artist who has participated in the event each year. His subject matter primarily involves San Diego scenes and relates to water. However, with his newer works he has reached beyond oil painting to explore glass etchings in shades and gold and silver. “I found that they had legs of their own,” Tillack said of his new artworks, which he creates backward, in an order opposite of how he would create a painting. He starts a new piece by first etching his signature, which for a painting he would do last. Tillack said he is excited to be able to share his work at the new bayfront location and looks forward to talking with attendees. “We will be having a number of different food offerings,” said Brandy Bechtold, director of catering at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront. The food will range from chocolate-dipped strawberries to tacos. The Hilton displays nearly $2 million in commissioned artwork on its premises, including a lighted wall created by a Seattle artist and silver wind palms in the park where ArtWalk will be held, Bechtold said. “We are inspired by our connection to the environment. With the ArtWalk, it seems like a perfect fit,” Bechtold said. She said the Hilton is able to offer a waterfront San Diego backdrop that it hopes will enhance the event. “I think it’s going to a be a great day to get amongst the guests and get the creative juices flowing,” Bechtold said. ArtWalk began in 2006 as the result of the artist community coming together and desiring an event in addition to the Mission Federal ArtWalk that occurs in April, Cottrell said. The Mission Federal ArtWalk has been going on for 27 years and takes up 22 city blocks. “One has the edgy, urban feel in the streets and the other one has the grassy park feel,” Cottrell said. ArtWalk on the Bay takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information visit www.artwalkonthebay.org.