From right, Barb Curtis, Tyler DeZago and Joe Dockery perform for passersby on Main Street, Saranac Lake, during an Art Walk. (Enterprise photo — Griffin Kelly)

SARANAC LAKE — The Art Walks begin this Thursday, with new organizers this year.

The Art Walks were started 21 years ago by local artist Tim Fortune, an organizer of many events around the village. After two decades of building the program, he said he’s ready to pass it on. He’s gotten others to organize it in the past, but he always oversaw it — no longer, though.

“I left it because I was limited, because I’m a volunteer myself and because I’m handing it to an organization I’m hoping to see it grow in unexpected ways,” he said.

The Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce and Saranac Lake ArtWorks have partnered to run the event this year. Patrick Murphy, executive director of the Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, wrote in an email that this is an effort to get the chamber involved in running events. The chamber once was known for public events but shifted its focus away from them years ago,

“The chamber approved a strategic plan in September of 2018, identifying event support and sponsorship as a priority,” Murphy wrote. “With Tim retiring from his 20 years of leadership at the ArtWalk helm, the chamber saw an opportunity to fill an essential need in the community.”

Kathy Recchia, operations director and events/outreach coordinator for Saranac Lake ArtWorks, said the ArtWorks committee decided to take on the event before she was hired, but she is glad they did.

“I eagerly accepted the job knowing that ArtWalks would be part of my purview,” Recchia wrote in an email.

Fortune said the Art Walks have a fairly low budget and that many merchants contribute to them, even if they aren’t hosting artists. The problem lies in the time required to run it. He said his goal for the last 20 years was to maintain it. Now he wants to see more.

“And now, with this new energy, I think it warrants new direction,” Fortune said.

Art Walks are held of the third Thursdays of the four warm-weather months. This year’s will be held on June 20, July 18, Aug. 15 and Sept. 19 from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

The event will host 33 members and events, including woodworking and hand-sewn crafting at the Book Nook, colored pencil and watercolor art at Grizle-T’s, and live music at BluSeed Studios. Some of the events are new.

“On June 20th, St. Regis Outfitters is a sponsoring business and a participant with their yoga for paddlers matched with a bluegrass string band,” Murphy wrote.