Upper Valley Empty Bowls is Back

Leavenworth’s beloved Upper Valley Empty Bowls (UV Empty Bowls) celebration will be back in all of its glory in 2023! The UV Empty Bowls Festival is the most important yearly fundraiser for Leavenworth’s Community Cupboard food bank. All proceeds from the Upper Valley Empty Bowls Festival are donated, which total over $15,000 each year. This donation funds over 50 percent of the food bank’s budget each year, helping to stock its food shelves and provide food boxes to over 1000 local households annually.

After a COVID-related pause in 2020, and a modified Community Soup Supper in 2021, UV Empty Bowls will return with four celebrations in 2023. Mark your calendars!

Glazing Days January 20-24

The events get started with the Glazing Days, beginning on Friday, January 20 (12-8:00 p.m.) and Saturday, January 21-Tuesday January 24 (10 a.m.-8 p.m.) in the Woodpecker Room at the Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort. The community is invited to paint bowls during the glazing days, then the bowls will be fired and picked up at the Community Soup Supper in March. All ages are welcome, no experience is necessary, and volunteers are on hand to offer advice. While at the glazing days, be sure to visit the table of local artists at work decorating beautiful bowls for the UV Empty Bowls Artist Bowl Auction in March

UV Empty Bowls Artist Bowl Showcase and Gala Celebration March 5

View the spectacular UV Empty Bowls online auction bowls in person by attending the annual UV Empty Bowls Artists’ Showcase and Gala Reception. Music, wine, appetizers, community, local artists, and a chance to win a raffle bowl. This event will be held Sunday, March 5. Stay tuned for details.

Online Artist Bowls Auction March 13-22

Don’t miss the 27th annual UV Empty Bowls on-line auction of bowls and platters hand painted by local artists.  From March 13-March 22, nineteen bowls designed and created by local artists and potters will be available for bidding on-line at the Upper Valley Empty Bowls website (www.uvemptybowls.org). Each masterpiece is also available for immediate purchase with a “buy it now “ price.

Community Soup Supper March 23

The final event of the UV Empty Bowls Festival is the community soup supper in the Leavenworth Festhalle on Thursday, March 23. The soup supper brings hundreds of members of the community together to collect their finished bowls and enjoy a simple meal with family and friends. Food for this event is donated by local restaurants, bakeries, and grocery stores in our community.

The UV Empty Bowls Festival committee is blessed to have so many local potters, artists and community members as active participants and supporters of this annual event. Please join us as we help feed our community’s hungry, strengthen community and celebrate the arts through the Upper Valley Empty Bowls Festival! For more information, go to www.uvemptybowls.org, or call the UVMEND office at

509-548-0408.