COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT:
New Director, Casey Ailes, Talks About Alki Art Fair

During the summer, there is no shortage of things to do in and around Alki. Locals and visitors to our wonderful beach know that! And now we have the Alki Art Fair, happening this coming weekend, July 22-24. So grab your sunscreen, the kiddos, and head on over to the beach for an art fair that will have something for everyone! We had a chance to catch up with the new director of the Alki Art Fair, Casey Ailes, and we asked her some questions about her role and this year’s event.

ACC: What from your background do you bring to the Alki Art Fair?

In my former life, I was a Curator of Art Galleries in Indianapolis. I also have a background in photography and painting, and I am currently working on my Master's Degree at The Savannah College of Art and Design with a focus on painting. I think my biggest contribution to the Alki Art Fair is a passion for the arts with an ability to work as a curatorial designer and organizer.

ACC: What can people expect at this year’s fair?

This year at the Art Fair, we have over 90 vendors, including emerging artists, returning artists, and an excellent line of tasty treats to eat along the way from several food vendors. We have Dippy's Ice Cream Truck returning this year to the fair along with Simply Kettle Popcorn, Road Dawg, Caribbean Cuisine, Pop's Sausage Grill, and Shug's Soda Fountain. I think I am getting hungry just thinking about them!

ACC: Is there anything in this year’s art fair that is different from previous years?

This year we are offering an additional day, Friday evening at the fair. The extra night will be the first year that we have offered Friday. A new attraction this year is visiting the local Fire Engine #29. Alki's Firefighters will be at the fair on Sunday, July 24, from 11:00 a.m. - noon, to say hi to kids at the kid zone area.

ACC: As far as volunteers, do you have enough, or do you still need people to sign up?

We need more VOLUNTEERS! Please, for every aspect of the fair. Covid has taken a toll on everything regarding the fair, so we need all the help we can get. We will have a lot of artists coming in on Friday and Saturday morning, and to help organize with traffic help and get the Artists where they need to be would be fantastic. We will also need help with cleaning up the fair Sunday evening. We are excited for volunteers to sign up.