Get ready for a hot long weekend

Organizers are predicting this year’s Arts and Music Festival will be nothing short of bodacious. “The Arts and Music Festival has taken a huge jump,” said Pam Oakley.

A bond arranged by Eddie Buendia for this year’s festival means artists have a no-hassle way to get their work across borders and on the Point. Oakley said that translated to over 50 artists bringing their work to the festival, from jewelers to acrylic artists. “This is over double what we had last year and we’ve got just about everything you can imagine.

On the music and dance side regulars like Craig Jacks and the Mighty Jackalopes, Bocephus King and the Rhama Dancers will be joined by new acts like the Salvaje Brazillian Trio. World renowned Irish dancers Erie Born will perform on Saturday. This year Bellingham’s 104.3 KAFE radio will be at the festival broadcasting for the full two-day event.All of the music acts have new CD releases.

“The children’s workshops are rock ’em, sock ’em this year,” Oakley said. There will be four one-hour workshops for kids each day from bubble performance art to beading and the ever-popular spin-art. There will also be a special Blue Moon exploding piñata on Saturday at 5 p.m.
There will be a silent auction with all sorts of goodies available such as art, pottery, dinner at South Beach House restaurant and a foursome of golf at the Point Roberts Golf Club.

The festival is at Lighthouse Marine Park July 31 from noon to 7 p.m. and August 1 from noon to 5 p.m.