LAURA EKLUND: ENJOYED SATURDAY'S FEST WITHOUT HAULING STUFF AROUND >>>   

Editor’s note: Laura Eklund took a year off from Tacoma’s Urban Art Festival’s organizational duties. A founding member, a busy schedule this year forced her to watch Saturday's festivities from the sidelines as South Sounders enjoyed classic cars, art, music, food, beer and more under the hot, baking sun.

Well almost, Team UAF convinced Eklund to stilt walk for a while.

Anyway, Eklund shares a few thoughts from Saturday’s Urban Art festival for Spew:  

Urban Art Festival returned this year as “Iron vs. Art” taking on a whole new life. Completely reinvented it became the combination of urban arts and hot rods.

With a new location on South Jefferson in front of The Swiss and encumbering the neighboring Diamond parking lot, this festival thrived Saturday.

As I entered the event Saturday, I ran into a bamboo-laden mainstage with two 8-foot-tall tiki gods. On said stage I dug the Hard Money Saints, KJ Sawka, Vicci Martinez and Life Cycle. Apparently, so did The Swiss’s insanely massive beer garden as the attendees got their dance on.

Down toward 21st Street beautiful art and handmade goods vendors lined both sides of the street.

Tacoma’s tots were busy at the Creation Station kid’s area thanks to Nicole King.

Half way down the street was the MLKBallet stage where unique performance pieces could be seen throughout the day.

Cars? Yup, the classic hot rod show â€" courtesy of Lifters Car Club â€" consumed the Diamond parking lot.

While drooling over the glistening autos I could hear the DJ Stage. As if out of a movie set, designer Charlie Hill took the DJ Stage to Hollywood status with an amazing scrap metal junkyard décor.

Close to the DJ stage was Al’s Brewing Co. beer garden at the end of the parking lot. Serving Jell-O shots, Lauren Ballwebers sangria and, of course, beer, festival goers moved to the beats of Deron “Suga” Jones, Bobby Galaxy and others.

It was freakin’ awesome to find misty spray bottles on all the tables in the beer garden.

The ridiculously scorching weather didn't keep people away from the smokin’ hot event. Nice job Urban Art Festival crew!