Always in August, the Ridgway Rendezvous Art and Craft Festival signals one last hurrah for summer, offering art lovers a weekend of entertainment nestled in the beautiful San Juan Mountain community of Ridgway.

According to Kentee Pasek, the festival’s creative director, this year’s event was the best ever in terms of attendance and variety of vendors.

“It’s successful because of the local talent and volunteers who participate,” she said. “The festival has grown into a collection of great artists and people making handcrafted, unique items. The festival is juried and we try to offer art pieces in a variety of mediums in a wide price range.”

The festival features live music from local entertainers, food vendors, kids activities and more. New this year were artist demonstrations in the areas of fiber art, glass, alcohol inks, leather, metal, painting and jewelry making.

The festival helps fund local art, dance and theater scholarships by offering high-quality art and crafts for sale from artists from across the country.

Jennifer Pate, a former home economics teacher who caught the quilting bug from her mother and grandmother, traveled from Oklahoma to sell her hand-stitched quilts, table runners and wall hangings. She said selling her quilts put her kids through college.

“I love this art festival,” Pate said, adding that she won first place in the fiber arts category last year.

Cheryl Kabala and her husband spend their summers in Colorado and head to Arizona for the winter. Ridgway Rendezvous in always on their list of summer stops. This year, Kabala displayed acrylic scarves and machine-washable shawls of all colors.

Julie Pace Hoff also brought her husband along from California. It wasn’t their first time at the rendezvous— they’ve been several times to share her folk art paintings. Hoff’s Grandma Moses-like scenes depict small town America in a variety of seasons. One painting includes scenes from Ridgway, including the San Juans and True Grit Café.

“As an artist traveling the festival circuit for awhile, I know what I always wished for and I try to do that for our participating artists,” said Pasek.

Don’t miss next year’s festival on August 10-11, 2019. Artist registration information is already available at www.ridgwayrendezvous.com.