Index Arts Festival a community effort

The Index Arts Festival is in its 15th year of connecting local artists with art enthusiasts.

The event has traditionally been held the first Saturday of the month, but organizers pushed it to Aug. 11 because of another fair nearby. Vendors will be at the festival from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and music will begin at the same time and wrap up at 10 p.m.

“We want people to absorb the beauty of the environment, and the works of local artists, and crafts, and entertaining music,” said Judy Davis. “It’s a good day to bring your chair and blanket, and just sit back and enjoy and rest.”

She has been organizing the annual festival for years. Mary Ritzman, Pat Woods and Russell Lawson were the three founders, and it has been passed down and grown by locals ever since, she said.

The event was created for the people living in Index to showcase their talents beyond the town’s boundaries, Davis said. Vendor participation has steadily expanded, and about 50 booths are now set up in town each year, she said.

Davis said a resident makes meals, The River House restaurant is open all day, and Korean food will be available to buy at the Index General Store, right across from Doolittle Pioneer Park. Organizers have added new activities, including free yoga at 10 a.m. Saturday and spoken word performances, she said.

There will be face painting, and people of all ages are encouraged to dance once the fair shuts down and everyone convenes for the music, she said.

Admission is free, and parking can be found in the lot south of the Skykomish River. Attendees take a short walk across the bridge to access the fair.

All of Index works together to put the festival on every year, Davis said. Kem Hunter has headed the project to get a new gazebo in the park, which the community gathered to put up Saturday in time for the event, she said.

“What I love about this town is everybody pitches in and helps each other,” Davis said.