Arts festival returns to Coffman Cove

If you are a lover of arts, music and seafood, Coffman Cove might be the place for you this weekend, Aug. 11-12.

The 2nd Annual “By The Sea” Arts and Seafood Festival will feature artists and craftspeople from Wrangell, Petersburg, Ketchikan and Prince of Wales Island. The island’s farmers market will provide fresh fruits and vegetables for visitors. A “Battle of the Bands,” will also be held, in conjunction with a “fish” themed poetry slam.

Coffman Cove tourism director Heather Hedges said last year’s event was a great start for the festival on POW.

“Last year was our first year and it was pretty exciting,” Hedges said. “We had a great turnout on the Saturday, with the Sunday being a little lighter. The feedback that we got was that it was a wonderful event and people were looking forward to this year.”

During the two-day event, there will also be hourly raffles with various prizes, including a t-shirt design contest. The menu comprises deep fried halibut, fish tacos, BBQ salmon, smoked salmon and clam chowder bread bowls, and shrimp gumbo.

According to Hedges, the city is still looking for participants interested in being vendors, or playing in the battle of the bands or poetry slam.

“In the poetry slam we have some people already signed up,” Hedges added. “For the battle of the bands, I have heard rumors that there are people coming out, but I have had no applications submitted so far.”

Breakaway Adventures will be running the water taxi service for the event.

For more information on the festival, or to sign up to participate, go to http://www.ccalaska.com, or call 329-3233.