Salem Art Fair Begins! (VIDEO)

The event is held at Bush's Pasture Park on High Street and runs through Sunday.

Photo by: Tim King

(SALEM) - Salem, Oregon’s 2006 Art Fair is up and running under beautiful summer skies. The event has been drawing some of the top artists from the west coast and beyond to Salem’s historic Bush’s Pasture Park for decades.

The weather is hot, but the Salem Art Fair has plenty of shade. Hundreds of vendors like Sherry Tolman of Port Townsend, Washington gather each year for what she considers the best show if its kind anywhere, “And the community supports this even so well, we have been coming here for six years now and it is the one we really look forward to.”

Each year the art fair draws more and more people, and there is almost an infinite variety of art on display and for sale. Of course art of all varieties is the main draw, but the food, music and children’s activities are also major components of each year’s Salem Art Fair.

Vendors spent much of Thursday setting up their booths. And while the emphasis is on art, the environment was also considered. Bonnie McCullough of Marion County’s recycling program says they are making the event more eco-friendly, “This year we’re going to try a new recycling system to reduce the amount of waste that gets thrown in the garbage.”

The Salem Art Fair runs through Sunday. It is considered by many to be the capitol city’s; largest summer event.

WATCH THE VIDEO REPORT BELOW BY SALEM-NEWS.COM'S TIM KING

Click here to comment!