The 13th annual Mountain Arts Festival was bigger than ever, taking place on the grounds of three Running Springs businesses: Rustic Arts Cabin Outfitters, Moonshine Lamp Co. and Havenwood.

Vendor booths dotted the space, with festival guests perusing everything from wood and resin creations (featured image), metal work (2), wooden mushrooms, fabric art, jewelry, incense chimneys, books and much more. Of course, there were wooden bears, with chainsaw artists working on site (3).

There was even hands-on art with Rob Lewbel, owner of Moonshine Lamp Co., assisting guests like 13-year-old Carver Brandon of Running Springs make drinking glasses out of wine bottles (4). After scoring the bottle with a glass cutter, Carver first dipped it into boiling hot water, then ice to create a clean break.

As guests got hungry, they headed to the Fatso To Go booth where a family cooked up Guam-style barbecue – satisfaction for both the senses of smell and taste!

And then there was the music! On Saturday, Clearshot (5) played two sets in one area, surrounded by vendor booths. In between their sets, Jimmy Reid and Dean Cortez (6) played in the beer and wine garden, sponsored by the Running Springs Area Chamber of Commerce. Other music was provided on Saturday and Sunday by Acoustics with Adam and Friends, Green Label Orchestra, Mark Segal and Neil Bradley and the Black Dogs.

Games like Connect 4 and Jenga were set up throughout the festival. Lauren (7) bravely removed a block from the bottom of the Jenga tower successfully!

(Photos by Mary-Justine Lanyon)