Tour art studios, meet celebrities at the golf course, and watch marathoners conquer the island June 4-6

The first weekend in June kicks off another San Juan summer in style.

In past years, this big weekend has featured a huge selection of events — from art to music to charity golf. This year’s June weekend is a little slimmer in some parts, heavier in others.

The annual garden tour, for example, is sitting this year out. However, the Artists Studio Tour returns bigger than before, and with a few fun additions. This year, visitors to the artists’ studios will be serenaded by wandering musicians. Organized by Isle be Jammin’s Kirk Fuhrmeister, local musicians will perform at select studios.

The Farmers Market Band will perform at Mary Gey-McCulloch’s on June 5, and Fuhrmeister’s band OPA! will perform at Yvonne Buijs-Mancuso’s studio on June 6. There are no other formally arranged performances, but Fuhrmeister has issued a list of musicians to all interested artists, so expect more impromptu playing to go along with the art.

(Fuhrmeister said he is happy to give more information to any musicians who want to join in. Call him at 378-5151, or contact the artist you are interested in playing for.)

There are 14 studios on the tour, with some studios hosting guest artists. Now in its 19th year, the tour attracts more and more people every year.

“It feels like we’ve been discovered,” Buijs-Mancuso said. “People just love the Artists Studio Tour. It’s still a popular local event but we get more off-island people now as well.” It’s an educational experience, “giving the public a glimpse into the inner workings of the studio,” she said. “A lot of people are really curious about how we do our art.”

The tour is self-guided, with studios open between 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Buijs-Mancuso said maps are available “anywhere you could think to pick one up” — book stores, King’s Market, MarketPlace and more. To get a good idea of what the tour is about, watch a video made of last year’s event by Karen and Gerard Woldveldt: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoU5Ke2Wor0.

The Islanders Bank San Juan Island Celebrity Golf Classic is June 4 and 5. On the 4th, there will be the horse race and the meet-the-celebrities party at Haley’s, sponsored by CenturyLink. The 18-hole celebrity classic is on June 5, followed by the big salmon barbecue, live and silent auctions, and entertainment by the Friday Harbor High School Band.

The event annually raises about $40,000 for local non-profits.

Islanders Bank is the new corporate sponsor, succeeding Wells Fargo Bank. The names of winners of this year’s tournament will be engraved on the new Islanders Bank John Linde Trophy, a memorial to the late Superior Court judge and avid golfer.

Celebrities in this year’s event include familiar names in music, radio and sports.

From music: Spike, of the rock band Spike And The Impalers; and Eddie Jackson, bass guitarist for the progressive metal band, Queensrÿche; and Michael Wilton, guitarist for Queensrÿche.

From radio: Syndicated host Delilah, and DJs Jeff “The Fish” Aaron, Mike Gastineau, Dave Grosby, Don O’Neil, Bob Rivers and Ron Upshaw.

From sports: Cam Cleland, former Husky and St. Louis Rams end; Chris Chandler, former Husky and Atlanta Falcons quarterback; Lisa Moretti, three-time WWF world champion wrestler; Brian Perkins, Unlimited Hydroplane driver; Kaylie Perkins, national champion hydroplane driver; Steve Raible, former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver, now voice of The Seahawks and KIRO-TV news anchor; Sonny Sixkiller, former passing leader for the Huskies and later the Washington Redskins; and Rusty Tillman, Seattle Seahawks special teams coach.

Other personalities: Nancy Fiala, regionally famous glass artist and sculptor; Warren Miller, world-renowned ski film producer; Jim Moore, sports writer for SeattlePI.com. Three Seattle SeaGals also join the field: Heidi Isaacson, Lindsay Moen and Georgia Schoonover.

June 6, the San Juan Island Marathon and Half-Marathon begin at 8:30 a.m. at the San Juan County Fairgrounds. Runners will go up San Juan Valley Road, and turn onto Wold Road. At Wold and Bailer Hill roads, the full marathon runners will head toward Lime Kiln State Park; the half-marathon runners will head down Bailer Hill, take Little Road onto Cattle Point and then head back into town. The race ends at the fairgrounds.

Registration is $70 for the full marathon and $60 for the half. Although it is possible to register on the day, the fees go up by $10. A portion of proceeds benefit the San Juan Island Schools Foundation.