“I don’t have specifics yet," Majano said. "Our hope is that we can do a combination of virtual and live because the current executive order allows for some aspects of a live event to still occur. So, we think that even if we aren’t to stage six in the executive order that we’ll be able to have some types of live aspects.”

Artists who are applying, like painter Salina Kalnins, hope the ELAF can be in-person so they can make connections with their customers. Kalnins was accepted last spring but since it was entirely online, coordinators told artists they will be automatically accepted again if they apply.

“Just in terms of sheer numbers of people it’s really exciting," Kalnins said. "It’s a really fun process meeting people, networking, referrals. I don’t think it’s going to be back to normal, but I really think that it will be good because artists are excited, and the public is excited to get out, too.”

Alynn Guerra, a printmaker who participated last spring as well, doesn’t want to get her hopes up.

“Honestly, I’m not anticipating much,” Guerra said. “I am really hoping that the show happens and we are not still under pandemic rules, but I feel like I have come to learn that we are not sure, just take it as it comes, one day at a time. If it happens, I think it’s going to be awesome because everybody’s ready to be outside and celebrate and be around other people.”

Another difference with the application process is artists’ booth fees will be reimbursed if the festival is transformed into a virtual event and they choose not to participate. However, Kalnins still views an online festival as an advantage to sell her paintings.

“I’ll definitely still participate virtually,” Kalnins said. “I mean as artists, or any business, any opportunity you can get right now, you need to take it. And if it’s just one person viewing my work, it’s one more person than I would have had I not done it.”

Guerra said she has been struggling to sell her artwork this year because of the pandemic, so she’s hopeful for the festival to occur in some form.

“I’m glad that (the event coordinators) are very optimistic and they’re going for it because it’s pretty dire,” Guerra said. “I’m really happy to know that they are working on it and hopefully, if it doesn’t happen in person, we’re going to figure out a way to make it happen.”

This combination event could feature limited crowd numbers in separated sections at the live event and registration in advance to watch artist demos and live music virtually. Feedback from ELAF’s virtual event last year was that attendees wanted more attention toward the artists rather than the music, Majano said. So, event coordinators are working to find a balance between the two.

“While I still think that having a focus on the music is important, I do think that there would be more interaction with the artists who are actually selling at the festival,” Majano said.

She hopes to have the visuals locked in by the time the jury process for applications begins, which is the first week of February. However, she will remain flexible in case of uncertainty with executive orders.

“I’m just hopeful, ultimately, that we have a festival,” Majano said. “That we just kind of grow and flex with how the times are changing and we move from it and move forward.”