Getting their groove on

POULSBO — The party got started Saturday night with the Lindy Hop.

As day gave way to evening, and the Poulsbo Arts Festival faded into the Street Dance, Poulsbo-based funk band J.B.L. took the stage and began playing.

But despite the groove and the disco ball strung above the intersection of Jenson Way and Front Street, most stood against storefronts like seventh-graders at a middle school dance.

But not Mary Bucy and Mary Schwed, both 21.

The pair was in town from Seattle, staying with Bucy’s grandma. They heard there was a dance party, so they came and kicked it old school.

“We got excited when we heard the music,” Schwed said.

Joyboy Kelly, a regular at dance events around Kitsap, paid the women homage, and noted that technically, they weren’t the only ones dancing.

“I stopped dancing and watched them,” he said.

The Arts Festival would continue for another day, and as the sun reappeared Sunday, the crowds picked up, said Greg Enright, president of the Cultural Arts Foundation, the sponsor of the art festival.

It was the 22nd year for the arts festival, the second year for the dance.

Enright said some vendors made their booth fee back the first day, but noted the overcast skies didn’t help.

“I feel positive about it, but I have some suggestions,” Enright said, noting that confusion about road closures led to the waterfront park’s parking lot remaining partly empty.

Low attendance was noted by others Saturday.

Poulsbo Bookstop owner Soon Hood said there weren’t as many people as last year.

“So far I’m doing well, I hope I do better,” Hood said as the street dance started gearing up.

As the night wore on, the “family friendly” beer garden started filling up.

The two women who kicked off the party said they would stay and dance as long as they could.

“Depending on how long the music goes,” said Bucy.

“When the music stops we go home,” Schwed said.

Contact North Kitsap Herald Staff Writer Andrew Binion at abinion@northkitsapherald.com or (360) 779-4464.

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