Mukilteo livens up with new program
Published 9:20 pm Monday, May 31, 2010
MUKILTEO — Maybe this city’s artists can breathe new life into Old Town.
At least, that’s what Mukilteo Arts Guild President Christine Awad Schmalz and City Councilman Kevin Stoltz hope will happen as they kick off a free, three-month program of arts tours, treasure hunts and movies called Waterfront Wednesdays.
It all starts at 3 p.m. Wednesday with the opening of the farmers market at Lighthouse Park.
“We’re getting together as a community to make something happen in our beautiful little town,” Schmalz said. “It’s too sleepy for me.”
Stoltz said he came up with the idea for Waterfront Wednesdays after the weekly farmers market was forced to move from its location near Rosehill Community Center with construction of the center’s new building. He led a small group of people in weekly planning meetings starting in February.
“We had a farmers market and open mic night in the same general area,” he said. “I saw the start of a very neat thing and some synergy.”
By promoting the arts, Waterfront Wednesdays will also hopefully help tourism and, by extension, Old Town’s businesses, Stoltz and Awad Schmalz said.
Mukilteo’s annual Lighthouse Festival in September is the city’s big event.
“It’s really cool but it’s only once a year and we really need something more than once a year,” Awad Schmalz said.
A free shuttle bus will take people to the waterfront from Lincoln Courtyard, 619 Fourth St., to the Art Building and Lighthouse Park, Stoltz said.
Oscar Halpert: 425-339-3429; ohalpert@heraldnet.com.
Waterfront Wednesday events
Here are some of the events scheduled for Mukilteo’s newest event, Waterfront Wednesdays:
Weekly activities through Sept. 1 include the farmers market, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., an open mic night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Red Cup Cafe, 619 Fourth St., and tours of the Art Building, 724 Front Ave. from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., where visitors can watch glass blowers in action and art studios.
Other scheduled events include a pet parade from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. June 30 at the Art Building; treasure hunts through Old Town July 14 and Aug. 18; and Cinema on the Beach at Lighthouse Park beginning with “Jaws” July 28.
For more information, call 425-423-0450.
