BY KAREN BOSSICK

Thirty-seven artists who are new to the Sun Valley Arts and Crafts Festival will be among the 126 artists at this year’s festival. Twenty more have shown here only once.

In contrast, one artist will be making her 20th consecutive appearance at the juried festival, which runs Friday through Sunday, Aug. 8-10, at Atkinson Park in Ketchum.

“What makes this Festival so special is the artists. We have 126 professional artists from 28 states selected from 440 applications,” said Festival Director Art Daves. “Every year these professionals travel from all parts of the country to show and sell their exceptional artwork to the residents and visitors of the Wood River Valley.”

The show ranked No. 11 nationally in 2024 for Fine Crafts and Fine Arts sales in 2024, according to “Art Fair SourceBook, a guide to top-selling art fairs and craft shows around the country. Typically, between 6,000 and 7,000 patrons attend the festival each year.

“Patrons love to come and see new work by their favorite artists who have shown here before, but they also get to see amazing work by new artists, as well,” said Daves.

The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the park, 900 3rd Avenue in Ketchum next to Hemingway STEAM School.

Artists will have works representing 12 fine arts categories, including ceramics, drawing, fiber, glass, jewelry, metalwork, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture and woodworking. A $1,000 cash prize will be given to the best of Show.

There will be food trucks and live music, a kid’s activity tent and T-shirts for sale. Dogs are allowed, as long as they’re leashed.