Everything from handmade crafts to unique gifts will be found on Honolulu during the annual Arts and Crafts Festival.

By Charly SHELTON

t’s that time of year again – time for handmade crafts and beautiful paintings, singers and dancers on every block and local fresh produce next to international delicacies. It’s time for the Montrose Arts and Crafts Festival, to be held Saturday and Sunday, June 3-4.

“It’s our biggest street event all year; in fact it’s the biggest street event in the City of Glendale all year,” said Dale Dawson, organizer of the event and member of the Montrose Shopping Park Association.

Beginning at 6 a.m. on Saturday, June 3, Honolulu Avenue will be shut down from Verdugo Road to Las Palmas Avenue. It will reopen to traffic at 8 p.m. on Sunday. Dawson promises there will be musicians on every block, “an international food court par excellence” at the intersection of Honolulu Avenue and Ocean View Boulevard, and over 250 artisans and craftspeople. He expects to see between 45,000 and 50,000 attendees from all over the Los Angeles area and around the country during the two-day event.

In addition to the craft booths, the kids play place and the abbreviated farmers’ market, there will be new attractions this year to delight returning visitors.

“We have a new wrinkle this year – we’ve hired The Man In White. He’s going to be sort of interesting,” Dawson said. “He paints himself white, wears a white outfit – white hat, white shoes, white gloves – and stands on a pedestal like a statue like you see along the Las Vegas Strip or Hollywood Boulevard. And when someone comes up and tips him, he comes alive and plays guitar and sings. We’re going to have some fun. We’re doing some different things.”

This is the 34th annual event and, after so many years, Dawson said, there are very few kinks left to iron out. Many of the vendors have been exhibiting at the event year after year so most everyone is on the same page as to how the event runs.

“I enjoy almost everything except getting here at 5:30 a.m. on Saturday,” Dawson said. “I don’t really enjoy it but I endure it, and I’m always the last one to leave on Sunday when they pull up the barricades at 8 p.m. So the duration is kind of a challenge, but the event is very fun. Once it’s up and running we just sit back and enjoy it because it runs itself.”

The event will be held June 3-4, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, visit ShopMontrose.com.

“If we don’t get a heat wave, and it looks like the weather’s going be pretty good, it’ll be a really nice weekend,” Dawson said. “You don’t want to miss it. There’s just a ton of stuff going on, something for everyone.”

  Charly Shelton