Thousands Swarm to Courthouse Lawn for Art Festival

Tents of various sizes were interspersed among the huge shady trees on the courthouse lawn and within the tents were the artistic fruits of labor of a wide array of artists. Painters, photographers, glass workers, wood workers, sculptors, pottery makers and other artisans gathered at the 48th Annual Sandpiper Art Festival on Saturday to display and sell their creations. Approximately 60 exhibitors showed and sold their work during the day-long event.

Several participants were returnees who brought popular items while others such as Nic Rex who brought jewelry and Keith Hewes who showed his aerial photography were first timers. Milana Marsenich, a writer, sold several copies of her two books set in frontier Montana—Copper Sky and Swan Keepers.

An estimated 2000 art lovers perused the offerings searching for unique, unusual, one-of-a-kind items to add to collections, to decorate their homes, to use, and to give as gifts. Shade provided by the towering trees offered relief from the sun where people could pause to listen to the live music and catch up with friends and neighbors who were also at the event. Overall it was a successful festival with exhibitors making a little money and many people going home with treasures.