The fourth year of the Damariscotta- Newcastle Art Walk continues on Friday from 4-7 p.m. Local galleries, studios, craft stores, restaurants and more keep their doors open late for shopping and browsing.

The Damariscotta-Newcastle Art Walk is a free, self-guided event held on the third Friday on the month from June to October. In addition to a variety of local art, some venues will offer music and others will offer light snacks and drinks. The event aims to increase community awareness of local art, make shows more inviting to the public and foster the creative economy.

Art Walk is organized by an informal coalition of art connoisseurs, business owners and nonprofit leaders, and has an eclectic range of participants. The villages invite the local community and visitors to enjoy the galleries, artists and artisans, musicians, specialty shops, restaurants and river views.

Among the 17 locations open this year, new participants include The Shady Lady on Main Street and Studio Roz on Elm Street. Additional participants are The Lincoln Home, River Gallery Fine Art, Newcastle Realty, Gifts at 136, Damariscotta River Grill, Legacy Properties-Sotheby’s, Savory Maine Dining and Provisions, The Stable Gallery, Kefauver Studio & Gallery, Jan Kilburn Gallery, The Sinclair Gallery, Kathleen Horst Studio Gallery, Rising Tide Community Market, River Arts, and Pemaquid Watershed Association.

There are informative poster and maps in stores throughout the Twin Villages of Damariscotta-Newcastle and brochures with smaller maps and listings of participants, including contact information, so people can carry the map with them for quick reference and visits beyond Art Walk nights. Additional dates for Art Walks include Sept. 16 and Oct. 21. Look for the yellow flags that denote Art Walk participants.

Additional Art Walk information can be found on the ArtWalk Facebook page at facebook.com/TwinVillagesArtWalk. For more information about participating in Damariscotta-Newcastle Art Walk as an artist or performer, contact event coordinators Kim Traina at hello@calljumpstart.com or Jill Rice at jrice411@tidewater.net.