Summer Arts Fair

Contributed photo

This year’s Summer Arts Fair at the Courthouse July 19 and 20 promises to be the liveliest one yet, with more music, lots of activities for kids and families, and a wider variety of art than ever before in this favorite island festival’s 15-year history.

Joe Buckler, inventor extraordinaire, will bring his latest kid toy: a huge hands-on goldberg-esque contraption sure to surprise. And of course there will be lots and lots of bubbles from Buckler’s famous Bubble Machine. (This may be the only fair where kids leave cleaner than they arrive.)

Island Rec leads the always-anticipated Chalk It Up event, where kids of all ages decorate the courthouse sidewalks. Creative Passions Craft Supply House has a children’s crafts tent where all kinds of fun summer souvenirs are created with the help of crafter-extraordinaire Bonnie Turman.

The Saturday music lineup includes Daniel Finn, Debbie and Oliver Strasser, and the One More Time Band at 4 p.m. On Sunday: lots of local acts, including Paul Arroyo on country guitar and Marimba. At noon both days, Kate Schuman leads a kid-friendly stagecoach singalong.

And the ART: The San Juan Island Summer Arts Fair is the largest and longest-running art show on the islands. Court Street will be chalk-a-block with rows of white tents where talented artists show and sell their wares. Buy a lunch from one of the food vendors and have a picnic on the lawn before exploring the fantastic fine art, pottery, textiles, jewelry, paintings, photography, sculpture, potions and soaps, furniture, hammocks and more. Each vendor will be at their booth and ready to answer your questions.

The Summer Arts Fair is sponsored by the San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce.

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