DANVILLE — The paint has been ordered and plans for the upcoming Walldogs event are quickly being finalized.

Scott Lindley of Mount Pulaski, leader of the Danville Walldogs meet, said more than 162 artists are scheduled to converge on the town Aug. 4-8, which will be considered a big meet for the group. He originally anticipated 100 would sign up.

“We are passionate painters,” Lindley said of Walldogs. “We come from all walks of life.”

Artists are traveling from as far as New Zealand, Hawaii, British Columbia, Florida, California and Nebraska for the meet.

“They are going to leave our town much more beautiful,” Anne Sacheli said, who is the hometown project coordinator with the Danville Area Convention and Visitors’ Bureau.

Fifteen murals have been designed by artists that are depictions of historical events or subjects from the community, which will be painted on walls throughout the greater downtown area.

Danville Stadium, The Balloon Classic, Chuckles candy factory, Abraham Lincoln and “Uncle Joe” Cannon are just a few of the topics to be told through paint.

At least $45,000 has been raised for the project, with donations varying in size. Title sponsor is Provena United Samaritans Medical Center, but many other businesses and individuals have pitched in to make Walldogs a go on an abbreviated planning schedule.

The four-day event will focus on the creation of the wall murals that could last a century if properly cared for, but it also is an occasion where the organizers have been careful to thoughtfully include the community who the walls were designed after.

“It’s a community project,” Sacheli said. “Not just the artist’s paint. Everyone can paint. We want the public there.”

Lindley said anyone can be a part of the project by painting on the walls themselves.

“An artist might just throw a brush in your hand,” Lindley said.

Another unique addition to the event will be the Lindley Sign Post Forest. Its home will be the lot at the corner of Vermilion and Harrison streets.

A Danville native, Carl K. Lindley, started the original sign post forest at Watson Lake in the Yukon, when he was stationed there in the Army and was homesick. He erected a sign, notating the mileage back to Danville. Others followed his lead, putting up their own signs to their hometowns.

Just as a coincidence, the Danville Walldog leader’s last name is Lindley. Also, Mayor Scott Eisenhauer grew up next door to Carl Lindley.

Sacheli said she spoke with people in Watson Lake, who were excited about the idea. Now feeling that Danville is their sister city, Watson Lake sent a sign to be placed in the forest. Also, each Walldog in the Danville meet is designing their own forest sign, notating how far away their hometown is from here.

Guests coming downtown also will have the option to have an artist make a sign to be placed in the forest, too, for a fee.

Beginning Wednesday, Aug. 4, many of the downtown streetlights will be dimmed to allow for darkness at the mural sites. Artists will then project their design images onto the walls and begin tracing the images that will be painted throughout the weekend.

Painting on the walls will commence Aug. 5-8. Children’s activities and “Wallpuppy” painting will occur each afternoon.

Family night is the evening of Aug. 5 at the Danville Public Library. A community “jam session,” soap carving demonstration and family movies will be presented.

On Aug. 6, events surrounding mural painting include a mayoral proclamation honoring the Walldog artists and local artists; an art exhibit at Alley Gallery; afternoon family movies at the library; and the Summer Sounds concert at Temple Plaza.

On Aug. 7, registration for a dog parade will begin at 9 a.m. at the library with the procession starting at 9:30 a.m. Pools of water and treats will be available for dogs. The Lindley Sign Post Forest will be dedicated at 11 a.m. that day.

An auction also will take place Saturday from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in Palace Park, with food and drinks, the Air Force Band and a disc jockey as entertainment.

Danville Walldog Art memorabilia will be auctioned. Each artist has built a model of his or her wall, which will be sold.

“If there’s a wall you like, there’s the actual model you can buy,” Sacheli said.

Officials feel the beautification the downtown area is going to receive from the murals will help influence tourism and even those who may be considering a move here.

Sacheli has already booked two bus tours who want to come see the murals once they’re complete.

Illinois State Sen. Mike Frerichs, D-Champaign, said he feels the Walldogs project will bring pride to the area and help the younger generation learn about the history here, too.

“I think that first weekend in August in Danville is going to be an exciting time,” Frerichs said. “I think this will bring a lot of energy.”