By Bethany BROWN

The Montrose Shopping Park Association (MSPA) held its 38^th annual Arts & Crafts Festival on Saturday, June 4 and Sunday, June 5. People gathered from far and wide to enjoy the more than 250 vendors who came to share their handcrafted passions with the people of Montrose – some vendors even joined the event from as far away as Arizona and Mexico.     

Artists, crafters, food vendors, California Certified Farmers and musicians, among others, provided seemingly endless entertainment for attendees across the 2200, 2300 and 2400 blocks of Honolulu Avenue. Booths with a vast array of handmade crafts, jewelry, clothing, ceramics, fine art, leather goods, fresh flowers, produce and more stretched for nearly a mile.

Sarwat Suleiman of Sparkles by Sarwat said it feels great to be back after having to miss the event last year and the year before due to COVID-19 complications. The Festival was canceled in 2020 and the date was moved several times in 2021, ultimately settling in October, which was the first (and only) time the Festival was scheduled in the fourth quarter of the year. Because of this shift outside its typical schedule, Suleiman had other obligations at the time and was unable to make it.

“I really realized how much I missed talking to people and the priceless social interaction that events like this bring,” she said. “It’s been nice to connect with others again, some familiar faces and some new.” Suleiman treks from Carlsbad each year and specializes in making handmade jewelry that is one-of-a-kind, meaning none is the same so everybody can have something unique.

Another vendor, photographer Don Schimmel, said he has been selling his prints at the Festival for 35 years and this marks his final year before he retires from doing shows. Schimmel is originally from Indiana but has lived in Southern California for most of his adult life and has traveled around the globe taking photos.

While he offers a variety of style within his work, he uniquely specializes in western photography and was even awarded The Los Angeles Times Photo of the Year for a photograph that he titled “The Last Roundup.” It featured a cowboy throwing what many would consider a perfect lasso, accompanied by a stampede of horses running ahead, somewhere amid the mountains of northern Oregon.

Other photos of his depict rodeos, ranch life and animals, like horses and donkeys, among others, and he emphasized that a person must truly know what that lifestyle means in order to capture it authentically and in a way that evokes emotion.

“It feels great to be here for the last time,” he said. “I plan on continuing to travel and take photos that I hope will ignite a desire for adventure in those who see them.”

In the center of the Festival, at the intersection of Ocean View Boulevard and Honolulu Avenue, there was an international food court with seating as well as a wine and beer garden. Cuisines offered ranged from Mexican, barbecue, Hawaiian, Asian and all-American hotdogs and sandwiches. Additionally, a large stage was set up and three different bands provided music for attendees as they ate and “shopped Montrose” over the two-day period.

Many attendees were seen with rainbow shaved ice in their hands as they danced to The Ploughboys, The Mojo Filter Blues Band and a Beatles tribute band called Ticket to Ride. Children found further enjoyment in the kids’ zone that featured an expanded petting zoo, bungee jumpers and inflatables.

Dale Dawson, MSPA event coordinator, said the weekend of festivities was nothing short of incredible. He said that it feels good to be back on the normal schedule and that he’s excited for next year’s event.

        “The weather was really on our side and the whole Festival went rather smoothly,” Dawson said. “Many vendors were excited to renew old acquaintances with one another and some even indicated that this was their best show … in some cases, ever. It was great.”

The 20^th Annual Montrose Car Show is next up on the MSPA calendar and is scheduled for Sunday, July 3 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information or to apply to bring a vehicle, visit www.shopmontrose.com.