Puget Sound Bead Festival—drawing crowds to Tacoma!
The Puget Sound Bead Festival in downtown Tacoma has always enjoyed its role as a gathering for beaders from around the region. In recent years, there has been an upward trend in attendees from out of state and even other countries. Of the 100 exhibitors bringing beads and accessories to the show, the majority are from out of state, providing local attendees a chance to shop beads they would otherwise have to travel to see. This year, there has been a noticeable upward trend in students from out of state registering for workshops as well. Class Coordinator, Melissa Lovejoy Goldman elaborates, “out-of-state students now make up almost 20% of all of our registrations.” She adds, “we’re seeing a majority of these out of state students coming from the Southwest, and we have students coming from as far away as Switzerland and Japan!”
“Each year, we’re finding more of the downtown businesses want to get involved with the Festival through flyers, coupons or giveaways to attendees,” says Festival Producer Viki Lareau. “It used to be such a challenge to get restaurants and coffee shops to stay open for our attendees, now they contact us before they make their schedule,” continues Lareau.
Fifteenth Annual Puget Sound Bead Festival, Fri – Sun July 9th – 11th 2010, located in the Murano Hotel’s Bicentennial Pavilion at 1302 Broadway in Tacoma, WA. The festival includes vendors, artists & bead merchants and artisans from across the country, bringing beads from all around the world. The festival also features over 70 classes in every kind of jewelry making including a Business Class teaching you how to sell your jewelry, a very popular option in this economy! All workshops are taught by nationally known instructors.
Hours are 10AM to 6 PM Friday and Saturday, and 11AM -5PM on Sunday. $7 admission is good for all three days. For more information, please contact The Bead Factory, (253)-572-5529 ext. 121 or 1-888-500-BEAD, fax (253) 383-9701, email Melissa@TheBeadFactory.com, or on the web at www.PugetSoundBeadFestival.com
Robyn Hawk
