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For the fourth time, students at ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ College and downtown businesses are eagerly anticipating ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Night in Town, a celebration of the relationship between town and gown.

Starting at 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 7, eateries and other businesses will welcome ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ students, staff and faculty (carrying a college ID) with discounts and other special offers. Meanwhile, ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ students will perform and show artwork at downtown venues in Lewiston and Auburn.

“It’s a chance for ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ students and the community to embrace each other in a positive and constructive way,” said organizer Caroline O’Sullivan, a ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ senior from Andover, Mass. “It’s a great opportunity for ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ students to break out of the campus bubble and see the amazing things that this community has to offer.

“And it’s a chance for community members to see ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ students’ artwork and performances, and just get a sense of what ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ students are like.”

Co-sponsoring the entire event is the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce. The ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Arts Collaborative and the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ a cappella group the Deansmen are co-sponsoring the a cappella and dance performance that concludes the event.

For more information, please contact cosulliv@bates.edu or visit the .

Student musicians and other performers will strut their stuff at venues including Gritty McDuff’s in Auburn. Also in Auburn, dessert will be a focus for the first time in the event’s history, as Top It Frozen Yogurt Bar and Maine Gourmet Chocolates, at 168 and 170 Main St. respectively, take part in ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Night in Town.

To conclude the event, at 7 p.m. all five of ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½’ a cappella groups and the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Dance Club will perform at Festival Plaza on Main Street in Auburn. For O’Sullivan, that final session is the high point of ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Night in Town.

“It’s really the place where the community and the students can come together in the open air and just enjoy some music and dance.”

The dance club will open with a demonstration of works in progress, followed by two or three songs apiece from ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½’ a cappella ensembles — the Deansmen, the Merimanders, the Manic Optimists, the Crosstones and TakeNote.

“It’s just so fun to be with your friends off campus and just step off for a moment,” says O’Sullivan.

Gritty McDuff’s, 68 Main St., hosts ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ musicians Eagle Stick, Maddie McLean and Kelsey Berry, and the Jazz Cats.

Across the Androscoggin at 115 Middle St., Lewiston, She Doesn’t Like Guthries will welcome back the Strange Bedfellows, an improv comedy troupe.

Also in Lewiston, at 134 Main St., Pedro O’Hara’s presents musicians Bootie & The Beat, and Meredith Colleary and Taylor Saucier.

At the L/A Arts office at 221 Lisbon St., Lewiston, musician Tuan Nguyen performs and student artwork will be shown.

A variety of Lewiston gathering places are offering discounts: Baxter Brewing, 130 Mill St.; DaVinci’s Eatery, 150 Mill St.; Fish Bones American Grill, 70 Lincoln St.; Chopsticks, 37 Park St.; Fuel, 49 Lisbon St.; Mother India, 114 Lisbon St.; Forage Market, 180 Lisbon St.; and Sea40, 40 East Ave. #2.

In Auburn, discounts are offered at Narals, 34 Court St.; 84 Court St. (the name is the address); and Fire House Grille, 47 Broad St.

ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Night in Town made its debut in May 2012, returning in October 2012 and May 2013.