The 2019 Blues and Arts Fiesta Festival
The 2019 San Felipe Blues and Arts Fiesta took place in San Felipe, Baja California over the weekend. Thousands of people traveled from across the United States to enjoy the blues and the art on display.
Several vendors said it is a fun time, but they also remember why the festival takes place.
Among those vendors are the Caldwell’s who traveled from Colorado
making this year their third time at the festival adding that it has become a real hobby for them.
” My wife loves to create the crafts, and we like coming to the festival, it’s just a lot of the fun, and it’s become a hobby for us, ” said George Caldwell, a vendor originally from Seattle.
The Caldwell’s start preparing for the massive event during the coldest winter months in Colorado, building over 100 pieces of jewelry.
” Well through the winter months in Colorado, so it’s about 4 to 5 months. It’s too cold to do anything else, so we spend our time crafting the jewelry, ” said Caldwell.
Local vendor and native, Ricardo Ruiz attended for the first time selling sculptures that take him an hour to make.
” I feel like Americans value the work done by an artist more than the people in Mexico, the locals pay less for the work I do, ” said Ruiz.
Ruiz said that he believes that more locals in Mexico should support the festival because of the income it brings them.
” The time I’ve been here I’ve made more than 200 dollars, which is triple than what I would make if I were in downtown San Felipe, ” said Ruiz.
More than six-hundred people attended this year’s festival, and all the proceeds will directly support several local charities including the San Felipe clinic and multiple shelters in the area.
