SANDPOINT — First comes the art, then comes the party.

Both will celebrate the community's art scene as more than 120 artists, craftsman and food vendors will fill downtown Sandpoint as the Pend Oreille Arts Council's 53rd annual Arts & Crafts Fair comes to town.

Spanning Main Street and Second Avenue from Church to Cedar, the event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free.

Visitors can browse a wide variety of handcrafted items, including paintings, ceramics, jewelry, photography, fiber arts and woodworking. The fair also includes live demonstrations, interactive activities and children’s stations, making it a family-friendly event.

Food vendors will be on site, including Azar’s Greek Food, returning with its popular gyros.

New this year, POAC invites attendees to stay for a free live performance by local blues band The Blues Crew at Farmin Park, just across the street from the fair. The concert begins at 4 p.m. Sunday, immediately after the fair closes.

POAC has organized the event for more than five decades. Booth fees support the nonprofit’s arts education programs, including Kaleidoscope, which brings art lessons to local elementary classrooms, and Ovations, which offers live performance experiences to students. Artists keep 100% of their sales, making the fair both a fundraiser and an economic opportunity.

Each year, the fair draws more than 4,000 visitors, reinforcing Sandpoint’s reputation as a vibrant arts community.

“This event is a celebration of creativity and connection,” Christy said. “It’s a weekend full of art, inspiration and community, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone downtown.”

For more information, visit artinsandpoint.org or follow POAC on Facebook.