More Art Hop 2011: Jazz, Hat-Making, Flute-Making, Crowds in Banning

Volunteers, artists, vendors, performers and scores of others woke early Saturday to get set up downtown for the Banning Cultural Alliance Art Hop 2011.

Central downtown on San Gorgonio Avenue north of Ramsey Street was closed to vehicle traffic to make way for pedestrians, display tents and booths.

A color guard from the Twin Pines Ranch for adjudicated youth helped get things started, geo-cache enthusiasts gathered near the former San Gorgonio Inn, and a steady morning breeze slacked off a bit before noon.

The smells of kettle corn and barbecue mingled with amplified strains of Inside Straight performing country-western versions of 1960s rock tunes, including the Rolling Stones' "This Could Be the Last Time" and the Beatles' "One After 909."

By Saturday afternoon, hundreds of residents and visitors were downtown, taking part in arts-and-crafts that included hat-making and painting a Volkswagen, as well as flute-making, basket-weaving and other activities at the Dorothy Ramon Learning Center.

Afternoon live music offerings included swing classics and Miles Davis cool performed by the Redlands Jazz Kids Big Band All Stars, in front the Banning Woman's Club.