Mixed weather for annual arts festival
The Bigfork Festival of the Arts shifted much of the activity to Grand Avenue this year. (Kay Bjork photo)
Little Hendrix goes for the fries while enjoying some of the food truck goodies at the Bigfork Festival of the Arts. (Kay Bjork photo)
Local mystery writer Leslie Budewitz greets visitors to her booth featuring her locally based books.
A musical ensemble that includes the unique sounds of a melodica plays in front of the Bigfork Art and Cultural Center. (Kay Bjork photo)
Festival-goers browse through a pottery booth at the Bigfork Festival of the Arts. (Kay Bjork photo)
A family drifts through downtown Bigfork while dad and mom enjoy their morning coffee at the Bigfork Festival of the Arts. (Kay Bjork photo)
Colorful landscape paintings adorn this booth at the Bigfork Festival of the Arts. (Kay Bjork photo)
Kalispell artist Raette Merideth gives a thumbs up in her booth featuring her oil landscapes at the Bigfork Festival of the Arts. (Kay Bjork photo)
The smoke cleared and then the clouds lifted for the Festival of the Arts in Bigfork on Saturday, setting the stage with good weather as a wide variety of art, food booth and the sounds of live music filled the streets of Bigfork.
Last year’s format was repeated this year with dozens of the booths set up in the new downtown parking lot, which allowed for artists to stay set up overnight. The added space also allowed many of the 150 booths to move to Grand Avenue.
This format change created a more airy Electric Avenue where attendees could browse booths and local shops and required that only half of Electric Avenue be shut down for the annual event. Bigfork Chamber Executive Director Rebekah King reported a great turnout and happy artists.
Sunday’s torrential rain was great for fire conditions, but not ideal for the outdoor festival so many of the booths opted out for the second day of the festival. But the show went on. After a refreshing rain in the morning the sun came out – and so did the people, ending the festival on a high note.
