Art’s future: A young artist contributes a piece infused with his own unique style.[/caption]

On Friday, June 28, 2024, several businesses within the Caribou Village Shopping Center hosted local vendors and celebrated their talents with the 4th Friday Art Walk. Many artists, each skilled in unique mediums, displayed their talents, while local shops provided special attractions, including Tarot card readings and live music.

The first event in the series began at 4 p.m. on Friday evening, just as adventurers were coming down from the mountains and as nine-to-fivers were counting down the minutes before the start of their weekend.

As the bars at Backcountry Pizza and Tres Gringos and the taproom at Very Nice Brewing Company (VNBC) started to fill up, and the restaurants prepared for the dinner rush, patrons were able to browse the many vendors set up on the sidewalk on the lower level of the shopping center.

Augustina’s Winery, while offering complimentary cheese, fruit, and crackers, also hosted Tarot card readings by Ela M., all which pair nicely with wine.

The Shop hosted The Baked Broad, serving delicious brownies and blondies, “Monsta” chocolate chip cookies, and banana bread. Artist Mona Crowe was also set up outside The Shop and showcased her majestic and spiritual oil and pastel paintings, and ink and colored pencil drawings.

Local artist Kathy Bremers displayed her gentle and elegant watercolor paintings outside Wild Bear Nature Center, and Brightwood Music hosted The Mountain-Ear, handing out the latest edition of the newspaper and the special Peak to Peak Visitor’s Guide.

Peace Love and Cake was set up right outside of VNBC, serving delectable macarons, “Magic Bars,” and vegan lemon sugar cookies. Blue Spruce Studio, a true family of artists, displayed their original creations, crafted through different mediums and styles, including quilting, sewing, and crochet, as well as beautiful and striking paintings by Ruby.

And just outside Dam Liquor, Rachel Thurber presented her brilliant textile weavings, featuring bright and earthy colors made from hand-dyed yarn to match the natural texture of each piece.

From 6 to 8 p.m. VNBC also hosted the loud and soulful music of Mountain ReVerb, whose hard rock sound echoed throughout the taproom and amplified through the brewery’s open doors, filling the shopping center’s parking lot.

Every fourth Friday of the month, all summer long and into September, the shopping center will host special vendors and live attractions. So even though June 28 has come and gone, there are still three more chances to check out the festivities.

The next 4th Friday Art Walk events will take place on July 26, August 23, and September 27.

A special thanks to Susan Green of VNBC, who organized the event, and to all those participating businesses in the Caribou Village Shopping Center and the amazing artists, artisans, musicians, and bakers who helped make the event special.