Arts Festival just around the corner

The 57th Anacortes Arts Festival, August 3 – 5 is one of the largest and oldest arts festivals in the Northwest. More than 250 juried booth artisans from around the country fill old town Anacortes with jewelry, painting, photography, ceramics, glass, wearables, wood, metal and outdoor art. Three stages with extended evening hours showcase 40 musical acts. Main stage is Country, Pop, Americana and World Music, including names like Knut Bell & the Blue Collars, Karl Blau and Aaron Crawford. Jazz Stage has regional Jazz, Swing and Blues including Pearl Django & Trish Hatley. The Waterfront Stage features eclectic fare with Crème Tangerine, Sundae & Mr. Goessl and others.

Arts at the Port is the crown jewel of the Festival. It showcases more than 75 regional fine artists in a unique, waterfront setting. Consisting of three exhibitions that include both two and three-dimensional art, this show opens Saturday, July 28 (free) and daily during the week leading up to the festival.

Working Studios finds master craftsmen demonstrating traditional, contemporary and folkart forms. Highlighted this year is body painting, traditional clay techniques, blacksmithing, basketry, mural painting, marbling, stone and native sculpture, wood working and plein air artists.

Culinary food court vendors and food trucks showcase ethnic, creative and healthy offerings including hand-tossed pizza, Bento Japanese, paella, poutine, seafood, farm-to-truck grilled sandwiches and ice cream and other goodies. Three beer and wine gardens serve microbrews, regional wines and cocktails. A fun hands-on youth activity area for kids and Art Dash certified half marathon, 10k & 5k round out the festival activities.

Visit www.AnacortesArtsFestival.com for more information.