Merry madness as Art in the Park returns to Howard Amon

The parking situation is tough, as always. The sun is hot, as always.

Despite — or perhaps because — of all that, the Allied Arts Association’s Art in the Park is once again a highlight of the Tri-City summer season for thousands. As always.

The 2017 Art in the Park opened Friday and continues through Saturday evening. It runs, as always, in tandem with the Tri-City Water Follies events taking place just a few miles down the Columbia River. (Follow the Water Follies action at tricityherald.com or on Facebook and Twitter, #TCHydros.)

Art in the Park gathers more than 200 artists and a myriad of vendors, performers and nonprofit concessionaires under the cool shade of Howard Amon Park.

Now in its 67th year, the event is packed with tradition.

Slinging salmon dinners is a decades-long tradition for the Richland Rod and Gun Club and its partner, the Columbia Basin Fly Casters. The two collaborate to run a popular salmon booth, which generates money to support a variety of activities, including youth conservation camp, wildlife water stations and events at Kennewick’s Family Fishing Pond.

The booth has been in business for 33 years, reports chair Dale Schielke. The custom-made smokers it created to smoke wild Yukon salmon over charcoal and bits of alder are almost as old and well-seasoned, Schielke joked.

The morning shift welcomed a lunchtime visit from the Benton-Franklin Health District food safety team, which touched bases to ensure it was was following food handling rules. It passed, Schielke said.

Tri-City photographer John Clement has participated in Art in the Park for 39 years. It’s a chance to showcase his older work, like ‘70s shots of desert flowers, and his newer images. Photos of Devil’s Tower National Monument in Wyoming, brilliant lightning strikes, breathtaking Rattlesnake Mountain and scenes from last winter’s snowfall, are among his newer offerings.

Jodi and Jeff Stroh of Puyallup-based Natural Accents are Art in the Park veterans, as well. Jeff reels in customers with his gregarious demonstration of his wife’s colorful glass and ceramic vases, cutting boards and house numbers.

The couple introduced colorful glass art cutting boards a few years ago. Last year’s supply was limited and they quickly exhausted their inventory at the 2016 Art in the Park. They came prepared this year.

“We brought way more,” Stroh said, holding piece after piece up to the sun to show off striking colors.

Art in the Park is a lucrative event for the couple, but it’s not the only thing drawing them to the Mid-Columbia.

“I come to golf too,” he said.

Donna Salveta, a Kennewick artist who describes her art as floral “trinkets and treasures,” drew a spot next to the rivershore. Between customers, she wove ribbons into renaissance-style halos and wands. The fluttering items were a big hit with a young visitor from Pasco.

Astrid Azure, 3, her dad, Nick, and grandmother, Kim Frodel, paused to investigate. Astrid left with a halo on her head and a wand in her hand.

Salveta added a few ribbons to Astrid’s new accessories, just to be sure they were girly enough for the tot.

“It’s a really nice way to spend the day,” she said.

If you go: Hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday. Live musical performances are planned throughout the day.

Parking is very tight at Howard Amon Park and the surrounding neighborhood. For those willing to walk, the north parking lot of the Richland Federal Building, 825 Jadwin Ave., is available.

Ben Franklin Transit also is providing shuttle service between Fran Rish Stadium, 1350 Lee Blvd., and the park, with stops along George Washington Way. Shuttle fare is $1.50 per person or $4 for a family up to five.

This story was originally published July 28, 2017 at 5:38 PM with the headline "Merry madness as Art in the Park returns to Howard Amon."