Folklife festival more than just music

Seated in the shade, under a tent, Stephanie Carlsen gently turned a small pot in her hands, applying a thick layer of candy apple glaze.

As she painted, the sounds of steel drums from the Tri-Cities band Bram Bratá floated through the air. And that's one of the things she and her partner, potter Mike Olivero of Yakima's Blue Comet Ceramics, like most about Folklife.

"The music's good," 53-year-old Olivero said. "The spirit's good. Everybody has a good time." Plus, "It's non-commercial, and we just live a block away."

The pair were just two of dozens of vendors -- many of them local -- who were selling their wares -- many of them handmade -- at Franklin Park during the 26th annual Yakima Folklife Festival on Saturday. The free festival kicked off Friday night and continues today.

More than 60 musicians, bands and dance troupes are performing on five stages in the park, adjoining Yakima Valley Museum and seven downtown venues this weekend.There's also an open mic stage in the park. But Folklife isn't only about the music.

There's the eating. And there's the shopping, particularly for arts and crafts. But that's not all. The Society for Creative Anachronism is hosting a Medieval Faire. And there's a giant water slide -- for kids and adults alike -- on the park's north slope.

Olivero and Carlsen were keeping cool Saturday under their tent, painting and selling stoneware -- bowls, plates, vases -- ranging from $3 to $50. And business was going well; "We sold $70 before we got our stuff unpacked," Olivero said.

He planned to spin pieces on a pottery wheel throughout the event and give a raku demonstration at 2 p.m. Saturday and today. Raku is a kind of Japanese pottery in which pieces are removed from the kiln while they're still glowing hot, then immediately cooled in water or the open air.

In the next booth, 50-year-old Norm Brown, a Tieton woodcarver, was using traditional and antique tools as well as mostly local wood -- birch, maple, cherry and apple, sometimes salvaged from orchards -- to make his handmade goods. His spoons, figurines, bowls and furniture were selling for $8 to upwards of $300.

As Brown was woodworking Saturday, his wife Janet was handling sales. Both said they were enjoying the music and the setting.

"This event is one of the highlights of the Yakima Valley," Janet Brown said. "There's a lot of music going on, and it's a good crowd."

Peter and Julie Morris, owners of Bella Vista Lavender, agreed.

"I love listening to the music all day," Julie Morris said. "I also like the variety of people we get; it seems like Folklife attracts all kinds of people -- young, old, artistic people, creat-ive people. It's fun to see."

Bella Vista offers lavender products -- lotion and essential oil, both $9, are the booth's best sellers -- as well as wool blankets, yarn and sheepskins. Nearby, other booths were peddling jewelry, wreaths and rugs, among other items.

In the food court, set up near the park's picnic shelter, the Taj Palace restaurant, which opened in Yakima earlier this year, was offering combination plates -- including its signature "butter chicken" -- for $6.50.

The Yakima Folklife Festival booth was selling $3 shaved ice treats. And a variety of other food vendors were serving fresh-squeezed lemonade, deep-fried ice cream, chicken fajitas, steak sandwiches, teriyaki beef and more.

Julie and Peter Morris traded off taking breaks to check out others' wares.

"I love the jewelry," Julie said. "Last year, I bought a dress. We spread our profit around. We eat a fair amount of it. It's just a really great family event."

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