A ‘sensual experience’: Anacortes Arts Festival celebrates 46th year with family-friendly fare

ZOE FRALEY

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There will be all kinds of fun and culture for the whole family at the Anacortes Arts Festival this weekend.

The festival is in its 46th year and is expected to draw about 90,000 visitors to downtown Anacortes. There will be plenty to keep all those visitors busy, with food, music, demonstrations and 250 juried art booths of returning favorites and new artists.

“We’ve gotten to be a pretty big event,” says Rita James, spokeswoman for the arts festival. “For one thing, the setting is beautiful. The weather is always good that weekend.”

IF YOU GO

When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, plus evening entertainment Friday and Saturday
Where: Commercial Avenue, from 10th Avenue to the waterfront. Park on side streets
Cost: Free, except for evening port concerts, which are $15
Details: For more information and a map of events, go to www.anacortesartsfestival.com or call (360) 293-6211.

This is an arts festival that the kids won’t mind going to; young ones can have tons of their own fun while their parents shop.

“Kids have an interactive tent where they can drum, dance, learn magic,” James says. “It’s a fun part of the festival that has a lot of energy.”

On Saturday and Sunday, visitors will be able to see the craft behind the pieces. Artists will be doing demonstrations in the working artist area, including an artist creating an installation piece with marine ropes.

While browsing the arts, fill up on food and music, including a ukulele jam Saturday afternoon. Evening concerts at the port will make sure the fun lasts past dusk.

In addition to the concerts, the port will feature a fine arts show focusing on artists from north of Seattle.

“It’s a whole sensual experience,” James says. “You hear the seagulls and hear the waves and smell the salt water, and you get to see this fine art.”