If you are as excited as I am about the upcoming #catvidfest, then you might also be wondering about the logistics of the event. So here, for you cat ladies, internet lovers, social types and just plain curious cats, is an important list of Dos and Don’ts…

Do get here, to Walker Open Field, early. We’ve got plenty of activities to keep you occupied starting at 4pm with Drawing Club with mnartists.org and a letterpress poster-making activity with the ladies of Lunalux, and the galleries are open and FREE thanks to Target Free Thursday Nights from 5 – 9 pm. We also have live music starting at 7pm on the field, so you’ll be serenaded while you wait for the cats on screen. I’d recommend getting here long before it gets dark so that you may secure a viewing spot on the field. #catvidfest will begin at 8:30 pm.

Don’t expect tickets or seating. Please bring a blanket or something to sit on and know that the field is a big open green space outside and you may stake your space on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Do dress for the weather. It might be hot or it might be cold, either way dress accordingly and remember that the temperature may drop as the sun sets.

Don’t worry if you get hungry, the D’Amico Garden Grill will be open. We’ve also ordered a few extra bars to help service your thirst with some excellent keg beer and a specialty “Cat’s Meow” cocktail! Kitty cocktails will also be available for the younger ones.

Do ride your bike if you can! We’ve ordered extra bike racks for all you hip cat-video-loving bikers.

Don’t expect us to accommodate your cat. In fact, 99.9% of your cats would not like to be brought out into a social public gathering of this type, so please be kind to your kitties and leave them at home with some extra catnip for the night:) If you do insist on bringing an animal, know that you are responsible for that animal’s needs and we will not have food, water, or kitty litter available.

Do expect to talk about your cat with other cat lovers. Feel free to bring pictures, stories and a great attitude about cats to share with your feline inclined kindred while you wait for the show to begin.

Don’t forget to buy a #catvidfest T-shirt, meet our community partners and have a great time while you’re here. We have friends from Feline Rescue, the Animal Humane Society, and the Wildcat Sanctuary who will be on the field and happy to talk with you about the amazing things they do for our feline friends.

Do tweet in your vote for “best in show” from the entire line-up of videos in the festival with the hashtag #catvidfest and the corresponding number you will find in the program we will be handing out the night of the fest.

Don’t be angry with us (or me personally) because your favorite video didn’t make the cut. We’ve tried our best to be broadly inclusive, but at the end of the day there’s only so many ways to edit down thousands of videos into a mere hour or so of footage. We are hoping to post some Honorable Mentions that didn’t make the cut online after the festival, so stay tuned…

Do follow up online if you can’t make the actual festival here in Minneapolis on Aug. 30th. We will be posting the #catvidfest line-up on www.walkerart.org/catvidfest following the festival for those of you across the globe or otherwise occupied next Thursday night.

For more information on how to get to the Walker Art Center and its amenities click here.

See you next week,

XO MEOW