CdA comes alive with art, food, music
Event-filled weekend offers something for everyone
Kids swarm to Logan Elvidge’s booth at Coeur d’Alene’s Art on the Green, pushing and shoving for a front-row look at the $8 contraption being loaded in front of them.
A white blur shoots from the PVC pipe and whizzes past unsuspecting passers-by.
Elvidge’s marshmallow shooter is a hit.
“Mom, can I get one, please?” a young spectator pleads.
“Do you use stale ones?” another asks, eyeing the bags of mini marshmallows scattered across the grass.
“Actually they’re better fresh,” says Elvidge, 18, of Otis Orchards, as he loads his ammo, brings pipe to lips and blows. While watercolors, oils and digital prints are predictable top sellers at the three-day art festival, innovative creations of youngsters also drained dollars from the wallets of art enthusiasts Friday.
Kelsey Cordes-Snyder, 15, mans her collection of origami lights and peace cranes which sway in the chilly breeze. Origami cranes are a peace symbol, the Coeur d’Alene resident says.
A man pays for a string of her lights and promises they’ll be wrapped around his tree at Christmas.
“I love the environment here,” the four-time festival artist says as she hands the money to her mother.
The 40th annual festival, which is expected to draw about 50,000 people and ends Sunday, features 144 booths, a juried art show, and music and dance performances.
The festival opened Friday with a march and performances by participants of the Art Shop, a weeklong creative workshop for children in grades two through eight.
Those dressed in tutus, leotards, suspenders, hot pink boas, oversized accessories and (of course) red noses were introduced by their clown names, which they developed along with their clown personalities. Others sashayed and boogied across the stage dressed in more understated attire – royal blue Art Shop T-shirts.
Fort Sherman Park isn’t the only grassy area bustling with activity this weekend.
Nearby City Park is crowded with more than 100 artists, international food booths and music as part of A Taste of the Coeur d’Alenes.
On Friday, people shuffled back and forth between the events. Kids with their faces painted at Art on the Green were later munching deep-fried hot dogs and elephant ears in City Park. Also this weekend, Sherman Avenue will feature 200 vendors for a Downtown Street Fair.