By Scott D. Johnston

The longest-running annual event in Ocean Shores — the Arts &Crafts Festival — has moved up to Labor Day weekend at the Ocean Shores Convention Center, featuring family fun and a huge variety of hand-made items from area artisans.

The 49th annual event, the primary revenue source for one of the North Coast’s oldest non-profits, Associated Arts of Ocean Shores (AAOS), kicks off Friday, Sept. 1, from 12 noon to 5 p.m. The event continues Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., and wraps up Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Admission is free.

One of the traditions of the event is that all of the arts and crafts merchandise sold must be in some way hand-made. Most of the creators of everything from fine art to key fobs are present at their booths and many are demonstrating their skills and artistic talents by making things on-site. Betty Downes of Ocean Shores will be making home spun yarn at the show, as she has for more years than most can remember.

Organizers and patrons agree that the opportunity to shop for gifts that are unique and individually crafted is what makes the event a success. The move up to Labor Day Weekend has added at least 20 new vendors, bringing the total past 70 to fill all of the Convention Center. A half-dozen food vendors will include soul food, a taco truck and an ice cream truck. Outside, there will be custom and classic cars, a booth with face painting and temporary tattoos, and AAOS will offer free rock painting for kids.

Outdoors on Saturday only, drum circles led by Johannes will happen throughout the day, as will an outdoor beer garden. The Bruce Hughes Band will perform live from 2 – 6 p.m. Strolling musicians will play all three days.

The event also offers space to area non-profits and expects several to participate this year.

Sylvia Schroll, one of the event organizers, explained that the economics of putting the event on Labor Day Weekend seem to make sense.

“It’s the last hurrah for the summer and thousands of people are in town, just before kids go back to school,” she said. A lot of people typically spend a lot of money over the holiday weekend, and may not have much left by the event’s traditional date, a weekend or two after Labor Day.

The event is the primary revenue raiser for AAOS, and funds everything they do. Most notable is another of the area’s longest running events, their free Fine Arts, 3D and Photography Show, that Schroll calls “the artists’ gift to community each year,” at the Convention Center each April.

Among its activities, the area artists’ group runs an annual youth art show and funds arts supplies and a scholarship at North Beach High School. Members also have completed the second of a hoped-for 20 public murals, this one next to Moby Dick restaurant on Pt. Brown Ave. in Ocean Shores. For more information, visit the AAOS website at www.associatedarts.org.

September Calendar

1-3: Annual Kelpers Festival and Shake Rat Rendezvous, featuring tug of war competition between Moclips and Pacific Beach, kid’s parade, full parade in Pacific Beach on Sunday, and various logging competitions. Contact: (360) 276-0009.

15-17: Whale of Quilt Show at the Ocean Shores Convention Center, (509) 715-9082 for information.

October

25-29: Irish Music Festival, centered at Galway Bay and the Ocean Shores Convention Center, www.galwaybacyirishpub.com.

November

24-26: Winter Fanta-Sea pre-Christmas festival of holiday gifts and vendors, Ocean Shores Convention Center, (360) 289-9586.

Editor’s note: Please send items for the Coast Calendar to editor@northcoastnews.com

North Coast News: The Arts & Crafts Festival features hand-made goods of all sorts, shapes and sizes.