Rossland's Spring Wing Ding on Saturday came on hot and blue, with buskers, street vendors, ice-cream, and deals all over town.
Competition from Christina Lake (finally, a lake day!), Castlegar's Sunfest, the annual mountain bike Trails Day by the Kootenay Columbia Trails Society, and so much more kept the downtown relatively quiet — compared to Golden City Days, for example — but nonetheless a good time was had by all.
The Queen Street market featured classics like Michel Germaine's baking and Rebecca Gilhula's Sweet Dreams cupcakes. Dave Klein and Caley Mulholland had the seedling market cornered while Sarah Zanussi and other artisans sold pottery, hats, stained glass, patio stones and more.
Brian Kalbfleisch played double duty, selling his artwork made from wood salvaged from the old Bank of Montreal building and the fire hall during renovations. He also had out his ukulele and the golden tones of his voice rang out across the square.
On the other side of the street, serenading the crowds that descended on Bear Country Kitchen for ice cream, was Heavy Shtetl, the mostly-Nelson collective of musicians playing infectiously uplifting Eastern European folk roots and jazz arrangements on tuba, trombone, accordian, clarinet, and more.
Local busker Russell Haskins also made an appearance as the hot sun lowered on a perfect blue day.
For more photos from the Wing Ding, see the Rossland News Facebook page — facebook.com/rosslandnews — and this week's print edition of the Rossland News, which comes out June 9.