Welcome to Washington’s Bavarian Village (well…not exactly, but close enough if you don’t look too far under the facades of the buildings).

We are here again, in the Eastern foothills of the Cascade Mountains, for the International Accordion Celebration. The weather has been as perfect as we can remember for the end of June (partly cloudy, temperature not above 80, mostly in the 70s).

First, these are the surroundings.

Next, those facades in downtown. Yeah, Leavenworth is a tourist destination, but everywhere you look inspires smiles. Even after 23 years.

And then, the reason for it all. Accordions!

Oops! Forgot one thing! Add people!

Thursday night, after the evening concert, we went down (literally) to Andreas Keller restaurant, which is in the basement of a building on Front street, for dinner and the jam session that normally takes place there.

And the decor never disappoints.

Here’s a little taste of the music.

Time to go down for breakfast before today’s competition. My favorite kids.