It was a great Anacortes Arts Festival, made all the more special this year by the fact that it was the 50th. A multimedia presentation commemorated the event. Festival awards include: Anacortes native Lanny Bergner, who took home the coveted People’s Choice fine art award, sponsored by Peoples Bank. This award was chosen by votes from nearly 3,000 visitors to the Fine Art Exhibition at the Port. Natalie Niblack of Mount Vernon received the T-Bailey Award. A wooden piece by Seattle artist Matt Sellars was chosen for the Anacortes Collects Purchase Award by the Marine Technology Center. The top $2,000 Wells Fargo Best of the Fest Award and Lara Knowles of Stanwood. Other booth artisan awards included the $1,000 Creativity Award that was presented to Helene Cooper from Port Angeles. The Anacortes Chamber of Commerce Partnership Awards were presented to Ronda Bergman of Snoqualmie, Marcio Diaz of Shoreline, Gina McCauley of Seattle, Kelly Phipps of Lyle, Chris and Ron Peterson of Tacoma and Helene Cooper of Port Angeles.