booth artisan deadline approaching
Booth Artisans
Deadline March 6

March 6 is the deadline for applications for Festival booth artisans.   Our goal is to fill our streets with a variety of fine art and craft that will appeal to every taste and budget.  Jurying happens on March 14 & 15, and acceptance notification goes out March 22.  We love our booth artisans and treat them well with free lunches, booth sitters, coffee service and $3,500 in awards.  With 80,000 estimated attendees, sales on the street total over $1,000,000. 

Buffett Beach Bash 
tickets selling fast

Tickets are now on sale for our Buffett Beach Bash on April 14, starting at 6pm, at the Anacortes Port Transit Shed.  Garratt Wilkin & the Parrotheads , a Jimmy Buffett tribute band, will play Jimmy's greatest songs and classic rock favorites.  The party will feature dancing, margaritas, food, a parrothead costume contest and lots of fun.  Tickets are $40 available online through our website.  Reserved tables are also available.  Evening proceeds support the Anacortes School District arts programs.  A special thanks to our first two sponsors - The Allen Family Foundation and Tides of Anacortes.


Emerging Artists
calling high school and college artists

We are continuing our successful Emerging Artist Exhibition at the Arts at the Port Fine Art Show.  It features the work of high school and college age students displayed alongside their professional peers. We are looking for a handful of talented young people to show 3 - 5 pieces of work each, in 2D or 3D.  We will provide a mentoring session, and there's a $500 Emerging Artist Award for one of them.  If you are interested, or know of a talented young artist, please contact Rita James, Creative Manager, at [email protected].

2018 Grants Announced

The Board recently approved 17 individual grants to local organizations for the coming year. Focusing on youth programs, they include arts education, enrichment, supplies and community partnership opportunities for the following organizations

Anacortes Boys & Girls Club
Anacortes Family Center
Anacortes Parks & Recreation
Anacortes High School/Middle School Choir
Fidalgo Elementary Artist in the Classroom
Mt Erie Elementary Bottle Cap Mural
Anacortes High School Music Program
Young Authors
Fidalgo Danceworks
Fidalgo Island Quilters
MoNA Link Education
Seahawk Music Boosters
Skagit Community Band
Skagit River Poetry Foundation
Skagit Symphony


Join the Color Run
April 14

The 4th annual 5k Do the Bloom Color Run on April 14 starts at the Depot Art Center at 10am.  Runners become living canvases painted with bright colored powder throughout the course.  This is a fun run appropriate for all ages, groups & even friendly dogs.  Come for the run and stay for the Buffett Beach Bash later that evening.   Register at Active.com.

Color Run Details
Piano Painters Wanted
3rd annual PIANO-cortes

Our PIANO-cortes project has been such a hit that we are continuing it for a 3rd year.  We provide donated pianos to artists, or groups of artists - who do their magic to transform them into musical works of art.  The pianos are then located downtown for the month of August.  You don't have to be a professional artist to participate - some creativity and sense of fun is what we are looking for.   Please email Rita James at pr@anacortesartsfestival for more information.
Anacortes Arts Festival | 505 O Ave, Anacortes |360-293-6211

See what's happening on our social sites: