Looking for free entertainment and food but don't feel like going off-campus to get some culture? Look no further than the Ghetto.

Today, ArtStreet is holding its third annual fall arts and music event, ArtBeat Festival. Tons of UD clubs and groups will be represented at ArtBeat, and it is free and open to the public. The festival, which begins at 3 p.m., will take place at the ArtStreet Plaza and Amphitheatre.

'This annual art festival celebrates performing, visual, and literary culture on the UD campus,' said Susan Byrnes, director of ArtStreet.

ArtBeat, organized in part by ArtStreet residents themselves, will host a number of campus groups and clubs.

Overexposed & Underdeveloped, UD's photography club, and the Rivers Institute, a UD group that raises awareness for the Great Miami River, will both have displays at the festival.

As far as free food goes, Campus Ministry will be there with root beer floats, and ArtStreet Caf?? is hosting a free cookout for anyone browsing the exhibits.

In the past two years, this event has been a huge success, spurring ArtStreet to continue this now annual tradition. Brynes said they are expecting somewhere between 250 and 400 people, judging on attendance from the two previous years of the festival.

Several UD students are set to perform at ArtBeat, including the band From Midnight On and UD senior Brendan O'Grady. Dr. Carrillo will be doing a poetry reading, and the Improv Club will be performing as well.

O'Grady, who will be playing the guitar from 4:40 to 5:10 p.m., expressed his excitement about the event.

'Anytime there are live music events I look forward to it, especially at ArtStreet,' he said. 'I think ArtStreet is a great location for these kinds of programs, and that's what it was built for.'

Although this is O'Grady's first time performing at ArtBeat, he is no novice to the guitar.

'I've been playing the guitar since freshmen year,' he said. 'It's been a real passion of mine. I have been trying to start a band, but it's just been me thus far. I am going to play all songs that I have written, though I might play one cover.'

Be sure to stop by ArtBeat Festival to check out O'Grady and all the other great performers that will be there. The live performances begin at 3 p.m. with the band From Midnight On, and end at 10:30 p.m. with Catfish & Pondscum.

UD junior Brian Sullivan has attended ArtBeat for the past two years.

'ArtBeat is about community and so is UD,' Sullivan said. 'It's the perfect way to bring the two communities together and get the students to learn more about the arts.'

You've heard the old adage, 'third time's a charm,' and hopefully ArtBeat Festival will prove that to be true its third time around.

Take it from Sullivan, who said, 'ArtBeat Festival is all about good music, good food, and a great time.'

Check out http://www.artstreet.udayton.edu for more information.