The one-way section of downtown Langley closed to traffic and turned into an outdoor art and performing studio on a sizzling hot Saturday.
The annual Arts Alive festival celebrates not only local artists, sculptors, potters, and performers from Langley, but from throughout the Lower Mainland.
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A total of 240 artists, artisans and crafters took part in this year’s festival, along with seven bands and one magician.
Despite the heat, between 20,000 and 25,000 people attended.
The difference from past years, noted organizer Teri James, was that due to the extreme heat, attendees didn’t stay as long as they had in past years.
But as far as the festival itself, James said it was “wonderful.”
“It was probably one of the most seamless that I’ve ever experienced in terms of the flow; vendors coming in and taking down,” James said. “Everybody who came had a good time, and with the vendors, I had nothing but positive feedback. They all thought it was awesome. I can’t remember the last time I had negative feedback from people.”
James said Arts Alive provides local artists an opportunity to showcase their work, and it’s not costly, either.
“We haven’t raised our fees for 10 years,” she said. “It’s still very affordable.”
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Artists and performers from all walks of life were represented, from professional to folks with the Stepping Stone Community Services Society, and the Langley Association for Community Living.
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Artist Shelby Munro with Stepping Stone had her clay sculptures Sweat Peas on display. She said they commemorate “art being alive.”
A few feet to the west was a display of eight narrow quilts from the Langley Quilters’ Guild. Each quilt was created separately by a different quilter but when lined beside one another, paint an interesting country portrait. Betty Johnson with the guild noted that it was an award winner at the Canadian Quilters Association’s National Juried Show 2016 show in Lethbridge, Alta.