Arts and Crafts Festival returns to Coupeville

The festival takes place Aug. 12-13.

By Karina Andrew • August 8, 2023 1:30 am

This weekend, the streets of Coupeville will be inundated once again with creatives and crafters of all varieties.

The Coupeville Arts and Crafts Festival will take place this weekend from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 12 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 13.

This year, 142 artist booths and seven food vendors will line Coveland, Alexander and Front streets for the two-day event. Artisans from Whidbey Island and beyond will be selling their hand-crafted wares, including paintings, sculptures, textiles, photography, collages, jewelry, candles, soap, canned food items, plants, furniture and more.

Festival President Deborah O’Brien said that 30% of this year’s vendors are new to the festival.

“We are thrilled to have the first ‘normal’ festival since the inception of Covid,” she wrote in an email.

The Coupeville Arts and Crafts festival has taken place annually for more than 50 years. The nonprofit Coupeville Festival Association hosts the festival every year and returns proceeds to the Central Whidbey community in the form of grants and scholarships. Last year’s 13 grant recipients included Coupeville Farm to School, the Island County Museum and the Coupeville library.

Parking will be available on the community green next to the Coupeville library for $5, with proceeds benefiting the Coupeville Boys and Girls Club. Coveland Street will close to vehicle traffic and parking at 3 p.m. on Friday, and Front Street will close Friday evening at 9 p.m. Coupeville residents and visitors are encouraged to plan accordingly.