POLSON — There was something to dazzle just about all of the senses at the Sandpiper Art Festival, as art, food and music filled the green lawn of the Lake County Courthouse last Saturday. Organized by the non-profit Sandpiper Art Gallery in Polson, the annual exhibition of artwork has now been going strong for 41 years.

The event was handled entirely by a staff of dedicated volunteers, including Paula Craft of Polson, who served as this year’s festival chairman.

Craft was pleased with the strong show of support that the festival has come to expect from the community.

Approximately 80 different booths of artwork were on display to the public. While some artists hailed from far corners of Montana, Idaho, and Oregon, Craft estimates that about three-quarters of the vendors were from the Mission and Flathead Valleys.

Craft says that selling art at the outdoor venue provides a literal and figurative breath of fresh air to the art community.

“This tends to draw a crowd (that) might not come into the gallery,” Craft said.

The event not only draws in new clientele, but also new artists. Craft says that an emphasis on local craftsmanship and a low application fee helps to welcome a lot of beginning artists who don’t typically attend such festivals.

Craft said that it’s exciting to provide encouragement to new artists in the area. In return, those at the festival get to see “how many talented people there really are here.”