Art and garden fest has food, kids activities and live music

EVERETT — It’s a celebration of gardens and art in the garden, but Sorticulture also includes food, activities for kids and live music.

Sorticulture starts Friday and runs through Sunday at Legion Memorial Park in Everett. If you didn’t catch the Sorticulture story in the June 3 newspaper, go to tinyurl.com/Sorticulture2017 for all the details.

About 150 vendors will be on hand to sell birdhouses, plants, planters, garden tools and lots of garden art. Educational booths from Snohomish County Master Gardeners and others will be open to answer your questions, two display gardens will be constructed for idea-gathering.

Special events include Northwest gardening guru Cisco Morris speaking at 2 p.m. Saturday on the Back Porch Stage.

Festival poster artist Kimberly Williams Mattson will sign posters and sell her botanical greeting cards in the Everett Rowing Association’s wine garden from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.

Janit Calvo, a world-renowned miniature gardener and pioneer of the hobby of miniature gardening, plans to sign her latest book at her booth, and have a make-it and take-it spot where people can create their own miniature gardens, starting at $35.

Food vendors include Absolutely Nuts, Baked Goods, Island Creamery, Whidbey Island Fudge, Crepe Town, Express Mexican Grill, Gip’s Down-Home BBQ, Grandma’s Yummies pizza and gyros, NW Nibblers corn on the cob, Pioneer Popcorn, Pony Espresso, Yummy Box Asian food, a wine and beer garden and Scotty’s Northwest with salmon and more.

Free activities for kids include face painting from 3 to 6 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday near the stage.

Paint a flower pot and plant a flower in it from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Then take it home and watch it grow.

Learn the art of wood carving from the Quil Ceda Carvers. Youngsters can color carvings and older children can enjoy wood carving.

Enjoy the new Sandculture sandbox by the playground. And stop by to see the pets offered by the city’s animal shelter.

Friday music

Kicking off the festival at 10 a.m. is the Well-Known Strangers, an indie/pop/alternative band from Wisconsin. Their acoustic instruments include cello.

Noon — Seattle bassist Marina Christopher sings and plays sultry jazz and her own fresh takes on classic pop songs.

2 p.m. — The Ryders Band plays covers of Americana, bluegrass and country songs by David Grisman, Jerry Garcia, Ralph Stanley, Dolly Parton, Dire Straits, Alison Krauss, Buck Owens and Ryan Adams.

4 p.m. — Crooner Pat McHenry continues in that same vibe, performing under the influence of Ryan Adams, Paul McCartney, Rufus Wainwright and Buck Owens.

Closing out the first day at 6 p.m. will be well-known local bluesman Mark DuFresne playing his harmonica.

Saturday music

The day starts again at 10 a.m., this time with Robbie Egelstad, who plays Spanish-style acoustic guitar.

Noon — The W Lovers, Fleur and Wesley Wood, perform Americana and folksy alt-country music.

1 p.m. — The Tarantellas return to the festival to perform festive Italian strolling music.

4 p.m. — The Spokane-based Side Project, Ben and Suzie Bradford, play sultry pop music to close out the second day.

Sunday music

10 a.m. — Seattle-based solo guitarist Ronnda Cadle will perform instrumentals. Her influences include Heart, the Indigo Girls and Will Ackerman.

Noon — The Winterlings, Amanda Birdsall and Wolff Bowden, are an indie folk duo, and have played in Everett numerous times, including at the Everett Farmers Market and for the Fisherman’s Village Music Festival.

2:30 p.m. — Jr. Geezer, another returnee to Everett, will play original folk-rock to close out the festival.

Sorticulture: Everett’s Garden Arts Festival

10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, June 9; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 10; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 11; Legion Memorial Park, 144 Alverson Blvd., Everett.

Park for free at Everett Community College, 2000 Tower St., and take the Everett Transit shuttlebus from the Student Fitness Center. The shuttle bus also is free. A bus picks up or drops off every15 minutes. Limited disabled parking available at the park.

Or ride your bicycle to the festival and let Sharing Wheels watch your bike, helmet and shoes for you.

Housing Hope will hold your purchases for you while you stroll the festival, or go get your vehicleto pick them up. Don’t forget to grab a pick-up pass. Suggested $5 donation.

While you are there, tour the Evergreen Arboretum & Gardens, found at the south end of the park.

For more information, go to everettwa.gov/sorticulture.