Ten bands and 45 regional artists are set for Saturday's Normal-Palooza, the popular North Chattanooga street fair held to raise funds for Normal Park Museum Magnet School.

Normal-Palooza is a colorful block party set around Normal Park Upper School on the corner of Dallas Road and Mississippi Avenue in North Chattanooga. A section of Mississippi Avenue in front of the school will be closed to create this urban festival. Last year's event drew almost 2,000 visitors to shop the artists' booths, listen to music or just stroll the block enjoying the food and fun.

"We call it our friend-raiser because we get to show the community our school. It brings together music and art and that's what this magnet school is about," said Lauren Hunt, who is co-chairing the festival with Barbara Ensign.

Principal Jill Levine said in a news release that the festival reinforces the importance the school places on the arts and its partnership with area museums while highlighting local businesses committed to supporting their neighborhood school.

The street fair is free and open to the public. Tickets for the Kids' Corner are $5 for ages 6 and under, which are good for the entire day. Kids can enjoy jumping on inflatables, see animals from the Chattanooga Zoo, get a makeover in the Normal Park Salon, play games or get a cast made. Hooty Hoops will be giving hula-hoop demonstrations.

Among participating artists will be Matthew Dutton, Diane Bruce, Jessica Weiss, Sarah Hiles, Penny Duffy, Steve Swayne and Rachel Tucker.

Local food merchants serving favorite dishes at the fair include Lupi's Pizza, Mercatino, Link 41, Greenlife, Jalapeno Corn Dogs, Pino Gelato, Champy's chicken and Whipped cupcakes.

Normal Park Museum Magnet is a magnet school for grades pre-K through 8 that partners with seven local museums to provide students with hands-on learning and enrichment programs. Funds raised at the street fair are used by the PTA to meet needs of the school.

2009

Normal-Palooza Entertainment Schedule

* 10 a.m. New Binkley Brothers

* 10:50 a.m. Mime Jerry Bowman

* 11:10 a.m. Uncle Lightning

* 12:10 a.m. Normal Park choir, band, dancers

* 12:40 p.m. Forest Magic

* 1:15 p.m. Kofi & Friends featuring New Zion dancers

* 1:30 p.m. Madeline and White Flag Band

* 2:20 p.m. Heypenny Marching Band

* 2:40 p.m. Heypenny

* 3:40 p.m. Joe Ridolfo & Scott Sullivan

* 4 p.m. Diakiaju

If You Go

* What: Normal-Palooza

* When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday

* Where: Normal Park Museum Magnet School's upper school, corner of Dallas Road and Mississippi Avenue.

* Admission: Free; $5 ages 6 and under for Kids Zone