47th Annual Kitsap Arts and Crafts Festival takes over Port Gamble July 28-30.

For some people one arts and crafts festival is too many. For others a thousand is not enough. Most people fortunately fall somewhere in the middle. If you haven’t had your fill of arts festivals this summer, or have yet to attend one, the biggest one in Kitsap County is this weekend, the 47th Annual Kitsap Arts and Crafts Festival in Port Gamble.

The three-day festival in the quaint old mill town runs from 10 a.m July 28 through 5 p.m. July 30. Daily hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 28 and 29, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 30.

The tiny town is literally taken over for the festival, with art displays in historic downtown buildings, more than 100 art and craft booths lining the street along the bluff, a non-stop music stage, food, classic cars and the Poulsbo Noon Lion’s Club Children’s Corner with art projects, contests and entertainment.

The organizers seem to have thought of everything, but they haven’t forgotten what the festival is all about. The three-day affair is the non-profit Kitsap Arts and Crafts Festival organization’s major fund raiser, supplying money for art scholarships as well as art docent programs and awards for artists in the juried show at the festival.

This year, the organization awarded two $2,000 scholarships to graduating North Kitsap High School students who plan to incorporate art into their higher education. The scholarship winners are Cody Gleason and Isabel Brown. They will be introduced to festival-goers in a presentation at 2:10 p.m. Saturday on the main stage, and at the Patrons Preview reception Friday evening.

The festival organization not only awards scholarships to graduating seniors, it also renews those scholarships throughout their education, as long as they keep up their grades and continue in some area of art studies.

This year the group funded six continuing students as well as the two new recipients. Doing the math, that’s $16,000.

Yvonne Cartwright, festival board president, estimated that 90 percent of the scholarship recipients graduate from college with an arts degree, and some have received funding into grad school.

The festival is free to attend — the scholarship money comes from booth fees charged to vendors and parking fees. If you are prone to wince at paying $2 to park at the festival, just remember it goes to a very good cause.

The festival is a great opportunity to view art produced by local artists as well as from artists farther afield. There is a juried art show and an open art show in the Walker-Ames House, with photography and sculpture on display in the old Post Office. Student art is also on display at the Post Office.

If you want to get a sneak peek at the art you can attend the Patrons Preview, 7 p.m. July 28 at the Port Gamble Masonic Lodge. Tickets are $15 each or $25 for two, available by calling Susan Henry at (360) 297-1402. The preview is a chance to view the art in a relaxed atmosphere while sipping wine and nibbling tasty treats. The winners of the juried art show will also be announced at this time.

The three-day festival has grown in popularity to the point that it draws upwards of 30,000 people, and more vendors apply than are accepted. The festival could grow, or move location, but that’s not in keeping with the hometown spirit of the event.

“We don’t want to be an Edmonds or Bellevue (festival),” Cartwright said. “We want to keep it small and friendly.”

All the arts and crafts for sale must be high quality and handmade. They also try to ensure a wide variety. If you have had a favorite artist at the festival in the past, chances are they will be there again. Cartwright said nearly 70 percent of the vendors are regulars.

Performers lined up for the main stage on Saturday are the Farragut Brass Band, Rowanfae Irish Dancers, Eric Alexander and the Skip Morris Duo. Sunday’s performers are the Stewart Wakefield Project, Silverport, the Boot Scootin’ Grannies and the Washington Old Time Fiddlers.

With so much going on, Cartwright said it would be hard to choose her favorite part of the festival.

“I’m just in love with it,” she said. “I love the Port Gamble atmosphere and the student art. We have some really talented young artists.”