Looking for something fun to do that's mostly free? Try your local summer street fairs. These fairs and other larger county fairs abound around Northwest Washington, offering a chance to check out the latest designs in ceramics, glass, wood furniture, metal sculpture, yard art, jewelry and more. The list goes on and on, as artisans sell their wares to those of us who happily open our wallets in support of talented entrepreneurs. I am always fascinated to see what new creations are made. Music and sidewalk actors like jugglers and magicians usually add to the fun and pleasure.
For the fourth year in a row, we attended the 50th Annual Anacortes Art Festival to see what was new, eat hot dogs, ears of corn, and squares of curly fries, and listen to the many musicians scattered along Commercial Street, the main drag in town. The unusual item that stood out for me this year was an ordinary one-gallon paint can, decorated with cut out designs and filled with wax. I liked this oversize luminaria, and marveled that someone had the imagination to make it. One of my past festival purchases was a simple wooden sign that adorns our hot tub. "We don't skinny dip. We chunky dunk." I still get a kick out of the saying (and its truth), and will always remember the magical day in Anacortes when I bought it.
Our true destination was the Main Stage where my son and his buddy were in charge of the sound system for the headliner groups scheduled to perform. Today the Mach One Jazz Orchestra at 12:00, followed by the Mark Dufresne Band, featuring blues, vocals and harmonica. The afternoon would end with Bump Kitchen R & B funk and soul music. All music groups on the Main Stage have to be approved by a festival committee, and as a result, they are all worth hearing. But Mach One, with its big band swing music was the one we were most eager to hear, and it didn't disappoint. Couples caught up in the rhythm and beat danced in front of the stage, while the rest of us less extroverted folks in the audience smiled, nodded our heads and tapped our feet in time to the music.
Although the crowd was mostly over fifty, several kids stood out. They were swing dancing their hearts out and looked like they could be on a junior version of Dancing With the Stars. Later I learned that the boy was seventeen, and one of his partners was his 13-year old sister. They belong to a swing dance group in a Seattle suburb, and just love dancing, taking advantage of every opportunity to perfect their skills. I enjoyed watching them later on the sidelines as the boy was patiently showing his little sister some of the more complicated moves. I doubt that their parents are overly worried about some of the pitfalls kids face these days. These young people are expending their excess energy on really wholesome fun! Seeing their love of the big band music and their zest in dancing I decided to tell my grandchildren about it. You can too. Check out Seattle Swing Dancers, a club that provides lessons for all ages starting at l3 years old. Maybe I'll take lessons myself. If you aren't lucky enough to live in the Seattle area, look for similar clubs near you.
Although the Anacortes Festival is now just a memory, there is still time to catch a fair in your area. Click on the following site and find one near you that will give you an emotional boost, AND help the vendors make their ends meet. While you're at it, check your local calendar for Saturday markets. Add locally grown fruits and vegetables to booths filled with trinkets and treasures, and you have a recipe for a fun filled day. It's a win-win experience. http://www.northwestcharm.com/wa/subjects/fairs.htm
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