Arts, artists and thousands of people are in downtown Bellevue today and Sunday drawn by three art fairs. The biggest, the 2008 Bellevue Arts Museum ArtsFair, is in and around the Bellevue Arts Museum and the Bellevue Collection. Also putting on a show will be the Sixth Street Fair and the Festival of Arts, both at nearby locations.

In all, 350,000 people are expected in downtown this weekend.

This is the 62nd year for the Bellevue Arts Museum ArtsFair, formerly called the Bellevue Arts and Crafts Fair. The free event features the work of 325 juried artists from the Northwest and throughout the nation.

The 6th Street Fair, at Northeast Sixth Street and 106th Avenue Northeast, features 120 local and regional artists showcasing original works of art including jewelry, paintings, and more.

For more art, venture a short distance north of Bellevue Square to the 24th annual Festival of Arts taking place at the Cost Plus World Market parking lot on 10300 Northeast Eighth Street. The festival is produced by the Craft Cooperative of the Northwest and features jewelry, photography, textiles, fine art, woodworking, sculpture and ceramics.