By Ellen Chappelle
One of Edmonds’ favorite annual events descends on the Francis Anderson Center this June 17-19. The Edmonds Arts Festival, voted Seattle’s favorite street fair, features nearly 250 carefully selected artists displaying their beautifully handcrafted work for sale. One of the Pacific Northwest’s oldest and largest arts festivals, this event offers a rich array of visual and performing arts in a stunning natural setting.
With a wide variety of art presented, there’s a little something for everyone. Choose from a dizzying array of oils, watercolors, pastels, drawings, mixed media, photography, sculpture, fiber arts, jewelry, glass, metal, pottery/ceramics, toys, collectibles and furniture.
A Juried Gallery of 450 top local and national artists is also available for viewing. Cash awards will be presented to the winners in seven categories: paintings, prints, drawings, photography, artisans’ works, sculpture and miniatures. All of the Juried Gallery art is for sale as well.
To encourage the next generation of artists, the Festival also presents a display of 900 jury-chosen art pieces by the students of the Edmonds school district. For kids attending the festival, there are hands-on art activities and performances throughout the day in the under-cover Kids Creative Corner.
The free Festival provides live entertainment and a variety of food and beverages. A wine bar and bistro with a great view of Puget Sound offers a welcome respite from all that shopping!
Completely run by volunteers, the Festival is supported by generous sponsors who help make public art possible for all to enjoy. Proceeds from the Festival help fund university scholarships, educational grants to schools, community grants to arts and cultural organizations, and public art installations.
The festival will take place at the Francis Anderson Center, located at 7th and Main Street in downtown Edmonds. The event times are Friday from 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Free shuttle parking is available at the old Woodway High School site (at 23200-100th Ave. W. in Edmonds) for all three days of the Festival. On Saturday and Sunday only, another free shuttle parking area is available at Chase Lake Elementary School at 21603-84th Ave. W.
To help you find your way through the many displays, a map of the festival grounds is available here. More information, including directions and maps of parking locations is on the festival website.
Dog lovers, take note: An Edmonds city ordinance prohibits our furry friends on the festival grounds. So be sure to leave Fido at home rather than locking him in a hot car for the day!
With a background in theatre and journalism, Ellen Chappelle is perfectly poised to covers the local arts scene for My Edmonds News. She also keeps busy writing and editing for artists and small businesses, publishing an informational site for dog owners and creating handcrafted jewelry. Please keep her posted about all things artistic in Edmonds by emailing her at arts@myedmondsnews.com.
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