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Steamboat Springs — About a dozen painters, photographers, jewelers and other craftsmen from the state and region will set up shop in Gondola Square this weekend.

The eighth annual Art on the Mountain craft fair features a few vendors from the Yampa Valley and fills out its roster with regional artists selling original, handcrafted work.

"There's goodies for all," said Sara Ferris, who works on marketing and events for Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp. The ski company hosts Art on the Mountain as a way to bring people back uphill during a Fourth of July weekend that offers many activities downtown, Ferris said.

"It just adds to the momentum and the enthusiasm that comes with the Fourth. I know there are a lot of things that happen downtown and around town, so it's an outlet to remind people to come back to the mountain," she said.

Many of the artists featured have been to the craft fair before, and the mountain will be running the gondola and its regular summer weekend activities through the festival, Ferris said.

Art in the Park is July 11 and 12

On July 11 and 12 at West Lincoln Park in downtown Steamboat Springs, the 35th annual Art in the Park will offer a similar variety of crafts and art wares, on a much larger scale.

More than 150 vendors are on board for this year's festival, which also features live entertainment, food, children's art activities and a Saturday evening theater performance, said Rachel Radetsky, events and facilities coordinator for the Steamboat Springs Arts Council.

A key fundraiser for the Arts Council, Art in the Park features a wide spectrum of artisans, selling handmade goods in ceramics, jewelry, fine art, photography, metalworking, woodworking, clothing and other disciplines.

This year's festival brings back the KidSpot interactive art area and includes a busy schedule of live performances by local bands, dance groups and other performing organizations, Radetsky said.

Great American Laughing Stock Co. and the 2009 Picnic Theatre Festival will present "Songs Around a Campfire," an original musical theater piece, at 6 p.m. July 11.

Art in the Park runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 11 and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 12. Additional activities include a music performance for children at 1 p.m. July 11 and a set by the We're Not Clowns juggling troupe at 2 p.m. July 12. Admission is free, and Arts Council volunteers will be accepting donations for the nonprofit organization at the gate.

Radetsky is looking for volunteers to take donations at the gate and help out with activities at KidSpot. Shifts are two hours long and run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day. Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Radetsky at 879-9008 or rradetsky@steamboatspringsarts.com.