Big weekend features music, art, and film
In its 33rd year, Choochokam Arts is proving to be the place for celebrating Langley’s rich arts history, while welcoming new sights, sounds and adventures to the lineup in 2008.
Choochokam Arts will kick off July 11 with a Friday Night Free Concert at the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts with three hot acts. Beginning at 7:30 p.m. Handful of Lovin’, Kris Orlowski and Vicci Martinez will play some rockin’ tunes to benefit Choochokam Arts. Although the show is free, sponsored by Allikat Productions, donations to the non-profit arts organization will be accepted graciously.
Expect new sights and sounds during Festival weekend, July 12 to 13. More than 50 performers are on the music lineup, complementing the juried artists, who will line Anthes and First streets. Choochokam Arts is continuing its tradition of featuring local artists at the 2008 festival. Again this year, US Bank is sponsoring the festival’s Group Gallery Tent, which provides local artists the opportunity to exhibit original works in a gallery-style tent.
The Main Stage will again focus on the larger bands, as well as the always popular Saturday Night Street Dance, which will include three bands: Adrian Xavier with reggae, Wired! with boogie woogie blues and Massy Ferguson with rock ‘n roll.
New this year are the Waterview Stage at the top of First Street near City Hall and Dez’s Shed stage at Useless Bay Coffee Co. The Waterview Stage will host everything from Ska to Indie and Acoustic Rock and Rap.
The Family Park Stage, located at Langley Park, will be the place for jazz workshops, poetry and acoustic music. Not to be missed is the Bird Show of North America at 3:15 p.m. Sunday. Artists and musicians unite for this show that includes a jazz and art workshop for kids.
The Clyde theater hosts the RainDance screenings. The best films from the contest will show for free on both Saturday and Sunday, and people will be able to go in and out of the theater at will. The latest information and scheduling for RainDance will be posted at The Clyde’s Web site, www.theclyde.net.
Sunday morning will see about 300 people running the first-ever Langley Half Marathon. The course is out and back along Saratoga Road to Fox Spit. Race time is 8:30 a.m.; awards at 11 a.m. Visit www.langley
halfmarathon.com.
Choochokam Arts Festival runs 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. As always, the myriad booths featuring products by the Northwest’s finest artisans is a major attraction, as is the food.
Visit www.choochokam
arts.org for a complete entertainment lineup and exhibitors list.
