The streets of downtown Raleigh seemed unusually still for a Saturday night. But a spark of light reflected off of tents lit up Moore Square. SPARKcon 2008, the third of annual local festival celebrating and encouraging the arts, health and creativity, was in full swing beginning at 9 a.m. Sept. 19.

By 6 p.m. the next day, events were wrapping up and organizers were preparing for the next round. In this slightly overcast, relaxed period, it was difficult to participate in certain highlighted events.

Three hours in, all of the GROUNDspark chalk-work was completed. Passers-by like Vallyn Murphy strolled along Martin Street awing at the different styles and talent of chalking artists.

“It’s a great experience for everyone of all ages,” Murphy, a sophomore in Art and Design who viewed the square of art her sister drew.

“Even though everything is in a square, you have no restraints,” Murphy said. “That’s cool.”

Another unrestrained activity — a slackline — hung beyond the squirrel’s idealistic acorn, secured snuggly between two trees.

“I’m a slacklining professional!” Scott Simmons, a graduate in landscape architecture, said after walking the line, surfing the line and gracefully dismounting the line.

But after reconsidering, Simmons motioned toward children playing on the slackline and said, “there are the slackline professionals — of the future.”

Simmons briefly updated those not “in the know” of slacklining lingo as he threw around phrases such as “surfing the line,” “sit start,” “mantle” and “jump 180,” a few of which he demonstrated.

“This should become an event – LineSPARK,” he said. “It’s bringing all these people together.”

Simmons mentioned lunch time was busier, and in general, he expected more people to come, but that didn’t seem to defer him from staying all afternoon.

Besides slacklining, Simmons also ventured across Moore Square to the graffitiSPARK section. Three large structures of wood were constructed in triangles, each side for a different artist.

Commencing at 2 p.m. on Saturday, the graffiti artists — with masks intact — worked on their canvases for hours, varying techniques of stencils and layers of color. Josh Lee, in his second year of industrial design at Wake Tech, watched with concentrated interest. An avid loyalist of the groundspark, coming all ten previous years, was enthralled with the graffiti addition last year and hopes to enter himself next year.

As art appreciators crowded around the graffiti, words of poetry sailed through the air. The spirit of poetry was passed around the circle from member to member of the Sacrificial Poets spoken word group from Chapel Hill.

Will McInerney, a sophomore in civil engineering at N.C. State, was among those members. He performed his piece ‘My Religion,’ which he also performed at Brave New Voices 2008 — the 11th annual International Youth Poetry Slam Festival, held in Washington, D.C. Another form of poetry was held at the local Metro Cafe and Lounge after dark as a continuation of Storyspark showcasing works with the theme of erotica.

Varied events showcased at Sparkcon throughout the weekend. Ideaspark, artspark, fashionspark, musicspark, bazaarspark, storyspark, yogaspark, healthspark, youthspark, groundspark, graffitispark, filmspark, dancespark, bugspark and bikespark.

But bugs were not the only delectable delight at Sparkcon this year as Chelsea Jester, a sophomore in Fashion and Textile Management nibbled on her frozen delight and said, “Pelican’s Snoballs are heavenly frost in a cup.”