42nd annual Arts in the Park brings crowds and creative flair to Ely

Dozens of artisans, local food vendors and live music drew large crowds to the 42nd annual Arts in the Park festival, organized by the Bristlecone Arts Council, in Ely during the first weekend of August.

The longstanding summer tradition featured more than 85 vendors offering a variety of handcrafted goods, with many reporting record sales and several selling out of inventory. Organizers noted that 54 vendors have already submitted applications to return next year.

Visitors to the park browsed an eclectic mix of art, home decor and hand-fashioned items. Highlights included a metal artist from Idaho showcasing yard decorations such as large sunflowers, hummingbirds and dragonflies, as well as a new vendor featuring handmade birdhouses and Tiffany-style, stained-glass plant stakes.

Returning favorites also made a strong showing. A featured woodworker returned after a few years’ absence to sell out of custom cutting boards equipped with built-in colander slides, while a local potter also sold out of her inventory. Other popular booths included flavored hot almonds, custom T-shirts and state-shaped rock jewelry cut into the outline of Nevada. Local business owner Polly Alstatt of Headframe Coffee set up in the park to offer coffee tastings, introducing her downtown roast to residents and out-of-town visitors.

In addition to craft shopping, the event offered a dedicated dining area featuring kettle corn, hot dogs, hamburgers, Indian frybread tacos and specialty drinks provided by the Prospector. Local musician Chris Lani provided background music throughout the event, performing soft jazz guitar for parkgoers.

Beyond bringing visitors to Ely, the event serves as a platform for local artists who may not operate traditional brick-and-mortar storefronts.

“Most of our vendors this year were locals,” committee member Irene Chachas said. “It really exposes them to the community people because quite a few local people when they see them will say, ‘Oh my goodness, I did not know you made this.’ It shows them that we’re not just a little community that’s doing nothing or there’s nothing available.”

Organizing the expansive event falls to a seven-member committee that includes Sally Gust, Catherine Bakaric, Tracie Gust, Robin Hansen, Pat Setterstrom, Betsy Havenstrike and Chachas. Gust, who helped found the festival, has served on the committee for all 42 years, while Chachas joined 12 years ago following years of organizing children’s art programs in local schools.

Planning for the festival requires mapping out 85 individual, 10-by-10 or 10-by-20 booth spaces in the park, managing online applications, hanging promotional banners and coordinating logistics.

“We all have an area that we do, however, we all help each other,” Chachas said. “It is a fun group of ladies that work very well together.”

The committee takes a well-deserved planning break before reuniting in late March to prepare for next August’s festival.