The countdown has begun! In nine days all three blocks of Honolulu Avenue will be closed to automobiles as we make way for our biggest event of the year, the 28th Annual Arts & Crafts Festival. The free event takes place next Saturday and Sunday, June 4 and June 5. Our streets will be lined with hundreds of crafters, artists, musicians, and food vendors for your entertainment and shopping pleasure. Last week I shared about our free, live entertainment. Since that writing we have booked another well-known band, Sarkis. They specialize in festival music with a great beat and flutes. You may just be moved to dance!
This week’s column is all about the food. As I write this I am looking at a photo I took of lunch at the fair last year. My sister Carole and I each got giant pink lemonades with lots of ice and a big hunk of lemon. This year look for Barrett’s Lemonade – it’s the best. We used this to wash down perfectly grilled hotdogs done on an open flame. You can see those dogs being grilled here.
Now, if you will allow me the pleasure, I will share a potpourri of food fun you will find at this year’s festival. A new vendor for us, Melissa, will be offering dipped apples. They will be dipped in chocolate, caramel and/or nuts … Anthony is back with his famous roasted peanuts … Simply Delicious will be popping corn … Chef Nipa has a whole array of Thai food … Mr. Corn Tamale will be here with a variety of handmade tamales … You want Hawaiian chicken? We’ve got it! There’s also Hawaiian Shaved Ice in lots of flavors … There’s a new fudge booth and I think they will be offering samples … and packaged to go you will find vinegars in beautiful bottles, and dip and soup mixes. There will be hot dogs and burgers and the Corn Roaster folks will be serving their irresistible corn on the cob.
And let’s not forget all of the many restaurants that make up the Montrose Shopping Park. They will be beckoning you to step into the air conditioning and sit a spell so you can shop ‘til you drop. It’s going to be a wonderful weekend for your family and friends.
See you next week with the inside scoop on shopping and crafters. Visit us on the web at www.shopmontrose.com!

Mary Dawson serves as vice president for the MSPA board. She and her family own
Revelation Tops and
Mountain Rose Gifts.

  Business, Mary Dawson, MAY 26