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Spotlight: Edmonds Arts Festival poster artist
Each year the Edmonds Arts Festival selects an artist whose work captures the spirit of this waterfront community. For 2026, that honor goes to painter Ben Groff.
His commissioned poster painting, Sunset Over Frances Anderson Center, captures a familiar Edmonds scene, with a wide sweep of sky toward Puget Sound framed by neighborhood buildings and stairs leading up to the Frances Anderson Center, where the festival has welcomed artists and visitors for generations.
Now in its 69th year, the Edmonds Arts Festival is one of the longest-running arts festivals in the Pacific Northwest, celebrating visual arts, music and student creativity along the shores of Puget Sound.
The 2026 Edmonds Arts Festival will be held Father’s Day weekend, June 19-21, at the Frances Anderson Center and Playfield.
More about Groff’s work here.
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Spotlight: Edmonds Driftwood Players Theatre Scholarships
Edmonds Driftwood Players (EDP) offers an annual scholarship program each spring for students pursuing theater education. Scholarships may be used for tuition at any college, university or technical school in the U.S.
Eligible students may apply to the scholarship program and be considered for all 2026 awards with one application.
$1,000 Ralph Eaton Technical Theatre Scholarship
The Ralph Eaton Technical Theatre Scholarship honors a longtime member who designed and built sets and served for many years as EDP’s volunteer technical director.
$1,000 Theatre Arts Scholarship
The Theatre Arts Scholarship is a longstanding award established in 1988.
$1,000 AC & Norma Gehrig Scholarship
The AC & Norma Gehrig Scholarship was created by longtime EDP member, volunteer, past board director and office manager Keith Gehrig to honor his parents.
Deadline: June 7, 2026
Submit via email to [email protected].
Scholarship details can be found here.
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Spotlight: Annual Independent Bookstore event
Saturday, April 25, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Edmonds Bookshop, 111 5th Ave. S.
Free
Edmonds Bookshop will participate in the 13th anniversary of Independent Bookstore Day and the Seattle Independent Bookstore Day Passport Challenge, which invites readers to visit 33 participating Seattle-area independent bookstores starting Saturday, April 25.
Passports can be picked up at any participating bookstore starting April 25. Participants will have 10 days to complete the challenge, which runs through Monday, May 4. Edmonds Bookshop is one of two participating bookstores in Edmonds, along with East West Books and Gifts on 3rd Avenue.
Edmonds Bookshop will host authors Marissa Pederson and Noelle Salazar for a book signing at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 25.
Pederson is the author of Moon Guide to Washington State. Salazar will sign copies of her latest book, a romantic-comedy titled The Meet-Poop.
From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Silent Book Club Edmonds and Edmonds Pride will celebrate with Edmonds Bookshop and spread the word about what they are doing.
Local artist Sue Coccia will have a pop-up sale and art demonstration in the bookstore from 1-4 p.m.
Edmonds-based Cookie Box Gluten Free Bakery will have a pop-up starting at 3 p.m. The store will have extended hours on Saturday, April 25 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, April 26, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Independent Bookstore Day was established in 2013 to celebrate and highlight the value of independent bookstores. It has been observed on the last Saturday of April each year since its founding. This year, more than 1,600 stores nationwide are participating.
Independent Bookstore Day is organized by the American Booksellers Association, a national nonprofit trade group that works with booksellers and industry partners to support independently owned bookstores.
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Upcoming Art Happenings:
Ballet Folklórico Xochiquetzal fundraiser
Ballet Folklórico Xochiquetzal (BFX) is participating in GiveBIG 2026 and working to raise $10,000 to continue providing culturally responsive arts programming for youth in the community.
Based at the Frances Anderson Center in Edmonds, BFX offers traditional Mexican folklórico and Indigenous dance education to students across Snohomish County.
Founded and directed by educator Xochitl Palacios, the nonprofit creates opportunities for youth from the Edmonds School District, neighboring districts and homeschool communities to connect with their cultural heritage while building confidence, discipline and leadership skills.
Through Ballet Folklórico, students learn regional history, storytelling and cultural traditions in an inclusive environment designed to foster identity and belonging. By removing financial barriers and providing access to instruction and regalia, BFX ensures that all students – especially from Latinx, immigrant and underserved communities can participate.
Community members can support the program by donating and sharing the organization’s GiveBIG campaign to help expand its reach.
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Ballinger Shakespeare Company fundraiser
Through June 1, 2026
Ballinger Shakespeare Company (BSC) believes Shakespeare is for everyone and is committed to producing free theater in Edmonds.
This July, the company will present Twelfth Night or What You Will in Mathay-Ballinger Park.
To keep performances free, the organization aims to raise $10,000 by June 1.
BSC’s mission is to provide space for the community to gather, picnic and experience live performance in an underserved area of Edmonds without paying for a ticket.
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Artists of ArtWorks Spring exhibition
Art Gallery 1 at Edmonds Waterfront Center, 220 Railroad Ave. Box 717
Through June 30.
Free
The Artists of Artworks, including 14 monthly locker artists, weekly open studio artists and ongoing art class students, are presenting a collective exhibition at the Edmonds Waterfront Center (EWC).
“Seveloping one’s art skills and creative sensibility goes hand-in-hand with establishing and growing one’s art community,” said Artworks Director Melissa Wadsworth. “Feeling supported is so important to artists. Art friendships naturally lead to more opportunities to put one’s art out in the world. We are so fortunate to have excellent organizations like the Edmonds Waterfront Center that appreciate the elevating effect of art on their own visitors and patrons.”
Exhibiting artists work in oil, acrylic, pastel, gouache, monoprint and mixed media. Interested buyers may contact artists directly regarding specific works.
Artists include:
- Yvonne Anderson (oil)
- Bonnie Aubachon (printmaking)
- Stu Hitchner (acrylic gouache)
- Lori Hughes (pastel)
- June Jackson (oil)
- Kelly Lindseth (oil)
- Laura Moe (acrylic)
- Gabby Raudebaugh (mixed media)
- Lisa Soderback (acrylic)
- Anna Sterner (oil and acrylic)
- Vicki Thompson (pastel)
- Rick Utt (acrylic)
- Melissa Wadsworth (oil)
- Laura Walls (oil)
Artworks is a place for artists and creatives to practice and refine their skills, explore creative outlets and participate in a supportive community.
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Third Thursdays: Art Walk Edmonds
Thursday, April 16, 5-8 p.m.
Downtown Edmonds
Art Walk Edmonds (AWE) is a monthly community event that runs all month long. Every third Thursday, participating businesses open their doors to showcase local and regional art, giving the public a chance to meet the artists and see new work.
Highlight: Hoadley Gallery West artist reception
Thursday, April 16, 5-8 p.m.
Hoadley Gallery West, 319 Main St., Edmonds
Artist Martha Ceccio will be featured in a reception at Hoadley Gallery West during Art Walk Edmonds.
This event will highlight Ceccio’s work, including several new pieces, and offer guests an opportunity to meet the artist and learn about her creative process and vision.
Refreshments and light hors d’oeuvres will be served. The reception is open to both longtime collectors and those new to Ceccio’s work.
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Two free African drumming classes
Free classes: Thursdays, April 16 and 23, 6:15-7:15 p.m.
Ongoing classes: Thursdays, 6:15-7:15 p.m.
Washington West African Center (WAWAC)
19203 36th Ave. W. #210, Lynnwood
Learn how to play traditional African musical instruments, including the djembe, balafon, kora, kalimba and more.
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Cedar Way Elementary students to perform at The Paramount Theatre and Mountlake Terrace High School
Mountlake Terrace’s Cedar Way Elementary is in their second year of a three-year grant, and students are preparing their second production: The Jungle Book Kids.
Performances will take place at Mountlake Terrace High School on May 1-2 (tickets online).
Also, students have been invited to perform at The Paramount Theatre on April 23 as part of the Disney Musicals in Schools Student Share Celebration. This event brings together participating schools from across the region, with each school performing a number from their musical on a professional stage. Disney covers transportation costs, making this experience accessible for all students.
Building on an already memorable experience for Title I schools like Cedar Way Elementary, students performed last year at The Paramount during the 10th anniversary celebration of the Disney Musicals in Schools program. Returning this year is especially meaningful to them, as it highlights both the growth of their students and the continued success of the program.
Programs like Disney Musicals in Schools, facilitated through Seattle Theatre Group, are designed to build sustainable musical theater programs in under-resourced elementary schools. For many of the school’s students, this is their first time performing on a stage – let alone in a historic venue like The Paramount.
Disney covers the cost of scripts for students in grades 3 to 6, but the school’s PTO plus community donations make the rest of the production possible.
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Art Talk with Brian Despain: ‘The Accidental Surrealist’
Thursday, April 23 at 7 p.m.
Graphite Arts Center, 202 Main St., Edmonds
Artist Brian Despain will present a historical and personal exploration of surrealism in a talk held in conjunction with the Delusions exhibition in the Gallery at Graphite, which runs March 7 through April.
Despain is an American artist known for intricate, symbol-rich paintings that blend fantasy with narrative depth. Based in the Puget Sound region, he is represented locally by Roq La Rue Gallery and exhibits nationally and internationally.
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Reschedule: Story Time with Katherine Castano at Edmonds Bookshop
Friday, April 24 at 9:30 a.m.
Edmonds Bookshop, 111 5th Ave. S.
Free
Snohomish author and illustrator Katherine Castano will be the featured author at Edmonds Bookshop’s Story Time.
Castano will be reading her first picture book, Remy, Where Are You? featuring a girl and her pet snail. This story takes readers on a twisty, turny, slimy journey through the forest and teaches young readers the importance of making new friends…and keeping the old.
There will be a story-inspired activity following the reading.
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Lynnwood Idol 2026: K-12 Singing Competition
Video submissions due: Thursday, April 30, 2026
In-person Finals: Friday, May 31
Lynnwood CELEBRATE! performance: June 26
Edmonds College Black Box Theatre, 20310 68th Ave. W., Lynnwood
Eligibility: K–12 students living or attending school in the Edmonds School District
Cost: Free
The Lynnwood Arts Commission and Lynnwood Parks & Recreation Foundation announce Lynnwood Idol 2026, a free solo singing competition open to all K-12 students who live or attend school in the Edmonds School District.
Students in grades K-5 and grades 6-12 will compete in separate age categories. The competition includes two rounds: A video submission and in-person finals. Two winners will each receive a $500 prize and the opportunity to perform at Lynnwood CELEBRATE! Runners-up will each receive $250.
Singers may perform any genre – classical, Broadway, country, jazz, rock or pop – using backing tracks. Songs must be two minutes or less.
Finalists may receive free coaching from a professional singer before the in-person finals.
For more information, email Fred Wong at [email protected].
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WE SPEAK celebration
Friday, May 1 at 7:30 p.m.
Edmonds Center for the Arts, 410 4th Ave. N.
Edmonds Center for the Arts (ECA) presents WE SPEAK, a celebration featuring Aishé Keita and Monique Franklin, with emcee Olisa Enrico and the WE SPEAK Poetry Slam Competition finalists.
WE SPEAK is ECA’s annual celebration of spoken word poetry and storytelling. The event brings together acclaimed artists and local youth, offering a platform for performers to respond to issues affecting their communities and the world.
*If you would like your event included in future Art Beat listings, email Nahline Gouin at [email protected].
Based in Edmonds, Nahline Gouin is a freelance writer, ceramicist and arts advocate with experience in art museums and performing arts centers. She continues to create with clay, homeschool her son and write as a creative practice.
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