Thousands attend Arlington Street Fair, enjoy Kornstalk Music Festival

ARLINGTON – Thousands of browsers snooping for antiques, collectibles and crafts visited the Arlington Street Fair downtown last weekend, while sounds from the Kornstalk Music Festival gave them live music to shop by.

The free three-day fair featured 150 craft and food vendors lining several blocks of Olympic Avenue.

For PupCakes LLC, a Granite Falls-based company that makes healthy gourmet snacks for dogs, this was their first time doing the Arlington fair. They’re glad they did.

“We’re having a good time and it has been well worth it,” said Kathy Sandmel, partner and retail sales manager. “Everybody is upbeat, excited, friendly, the weather has been great and there are lots of dogs.”

She said the “Wild Paws” cookies, bacon bagels and “Woofy Waffles” were the hottest items for pet owners looking for the right goodies for birthdays and “dog-iversaries.”

For everybody else, there were dozens of vendors selling custom-made jewelry, pillows, quilts, clothing, summer tie-dye wear, cosmetics, bath goods, salsa, healthy foods and plenty of antiques and collectibles.

The City of Arlington hosted a booth in front of City Hall where visitors could view details about the latest city projects, services and economic development, while meeting casually with elected officials, directors and staff.

Kornstalk Music Festival on the Legion Park stage treated visitors to Bluegrass, Country music and Americana roots music that have been part of the Stillaguamish Valley’s character for generations. The lineup included performances by the Old Time Fiddlers, The Dan Canyon Band, Derringer Darlings and others.

The bill also featured Johnny Green and the Pack String, who organized Kornstalk as a fundraiser for the Arlington Community Food Bank. Listeners were encouraged to bring a food or cash donation to a barrel near the stage. Green and the band had a major hand in building the stage on which they played.

Children’s activities were scattered throughout the fair, and plenty of food vendors were stationed along Olympic and in the Legion parking lot.

First-timers PupCakes LLC was one of 150 vendors who participated in the 2019 street fair.

First-timers PupCakes LLC was one of 150 vendors who participated in the 2019 street fair.

Kathy Sandmel with PupCakes shows off their healthy gourmet snack “Wild Paws.”

Kathy Sandmel with PupCakes shows off their healthy gourmet snack “Wild Paws.”

The Dan Canyon Band were one of several performers who entertained during the three-day Kornstalk Music Festival in Legion Park that coincides with the street fair.

The Dan Canyon Band were one of several performers who entertained during the three-day Kornstalk Music Festival in Legion Park that coincides with the street fair.