Caprice Teske, the market director for Bellingham Farmers Market, sent me an email about opportunities for new vendors at the market. The downtown market at Depot Market Square opens April 7 and will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Saturday through Dec. 22, and the Fairhaven market in the Village Green will run from noon to 5 p.m. every Wednesday, June 6 through Sept. 26.
"New vendors enable us to expand the market's product mix and selection range, and are essential in helping us maintain an interesting, sustainable market for our community," Teske said in a press release.
Farmers, producers and crafters in Whatcom and Skagit counties who are looking for new markets and more face-to-face time with customers should consider the idea. This year - the markets 20th season - the focus is on vendors that offer specialty crops, processed foods using locally grown ingredients, and crafts not already represented at the market.
"We'd love to see more items for children, such as toys, clothing, and cloth diaper covers, as well as wood arts or photography," Teske said.
Applications are due Jan. 31. All craft, value-added and food products will be reviewed by a market panel of vendors and community members. For details, call 360-647-2060, email Teske at market@bellinghamfarmers.org, or go to bellinghamfarmers.org.
CONTEST DEADILNE NEAR AT BELLINGHAM REVIEW
Brenda Miller, editor-in-chief of The Bellingham Review, the nonprofit literary arts magazine affiliated with Western Washington University, is seeking submissions for its 2012 contests: The 49th Parallel Award for Poetry, the Annie Dillard Award for Creative Nonfiction and the Tobias Wolff Award for Fiction.
Electronic submissions are strongly encouraged. Entries are due March 15. For guidelines, see bhreview.org or go to Bellingham Review's Facebook page.
UPFRONT THEATRE TO LAUNCH FILM FESTIVAL
The Upfront Theatre - the cabaret-style venue at 1208 Bay St. established by Ryan Stiles in 2004 to showcase improv comedy and offer improv classes - is launching the first in a series of comedy film festivals, to be held Feb. 23 at its Thursday night show, The Project.
Videos are due Feb. 16. For details, go to The Project Presents: Comedy Film Festival on Facebook, or email uftproject@gmail.com. For more on the theater's shows and classes, visit theupfront.com.
WINTERSTOMP ARTS FESTIVAL CELEBRATES SKAGIT VALLEY
WinterStomp, an evening festival of music, dancing and poetry that celebrates farm and food traditions in Skagit Valley, will take place Feb. 4 at Lincoln Theatre, in downtown Mount Vernon.
The Skagit Valley Co-op and the Skagit River Poetry Festival are moderating the Farms and Food Poetry Contest, which is open to anyone in Northwest Washington.
Submissions are due Jan. 17, with guidelines and details at winterstomp.wordpress.com. Submit poems in care of Jodie Buller at the Skagit Valley Co-op, 202 S. First St., Mount Vernon, cooproom@gmai.com.
For more festival information, contact Jessica Gigot at 206-409-7471 or hfproduce@gmail.com, or go to Winterstomp on Facebook.
ABOUT BEHIND THE SCENES
Behind the Scenes focuses on the people who make the arts and entertainment world of Whatcom County happen. It appears in Take Five, The Bellingham Herald's entertainment section, each Thursday. Margaret Bikman is the Entertainment News Coordinator at The Bellingham Herald.
