Today was our 3rd annual Art, River, and Music festival downtown.  I arrived early at 9:30 and had to park up near the center of town.  Every place you go here in western NC consists of walking up and down hills and mountainsides to reach your destination.  There were over forty vendor tents set up along the treed river walk including the regular Farmers Market. 

 Farmers Market area where I go every Saturday morning to buy any fresh vegetables that are not in my garden, fresh eggs and free-range chickens, delicious artisan breads and muffins, and where I schmooze with my favorite vendors. 

I got the biggest charge out of these ladies sitting at the eating table.  At 10:30 the food vendors were still setting up and preparing their foods, nothing was cooked yet, but the ladies were ready to eat.  Important things first.  Food always taste better outside.

Tents set up along the shaded river walk.

local artists

some of the pottery displays

Another of my favorites.  He is a resident blacksmith at the John Campbell Folk School and does demonstrations at all the festivals.  There were also live artist demonstrations, canoe tours, a crazy float contest, local and regional musicians throughout the day.

The Morris  Dancers from John Campbell Folk School.

Today was a little humid with thunderstorms approaching but the festival made it without any rain.

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