Arts festival braves cool weather

While the bulls and broncs bucked just down the road, visitors to Sisters strolled among dozens of booths at the Sisters Arts & Crafts Festival at Creekside City Park.

Vendors offered everything from jewelry to bent willow furniture, from tie-dyed clothing to Western memorabilia.

Singer Mac McCartney played classic country tunes in the background as shoppers perused the wares.

There was a big rush to the park after the rodeo parade on Saturday, according to organizer Richard Esterman, but chilly temperatures and a cutting wind chased some of the shoppers away. Many came back on a sunny and much warmer Sunday.

“It’s going pretty good,” Esterman said on Sunday. “I have no complaints.”

A significant feature of the annual art festival is a silent auction that benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Vendors receive a $25 discount on their space if they donate an item to the silent auction, which runs hourly through the weekend.

The auction raised $451 for the charity, Esterman said.

Make-A-Wish fulfills wishes for children facing terminal illness. Esterman said he was drawn to the charity in part because he suffered the loss of a child in an accident years ago and wanted to ease the burden of families.

“I just think it’s a good organization,” he said.