Washington State’s official flower is celebrated in Port Townsend at the Rhododendron Festival, May 12-17. Rhody Fest royalty are chosen, and the week includes a variety of events and activities including trike races, a Rhododendron flower show, pet parade, kiddie’s parade, bed races, Kiwanis fish fry, golf tournament, pancake breakfast, carnival and the Rhody Festival grand parade. For more information, visit www.rhodyfestival.org.
The 10th annual Bluegrass from the Forest Festival in Shelton is May 16-18. Take part in master workshops, banjo contests, mandolin tasting and all night jams in the campground-complete with hot dogs at midnight. For a full schedule check www.bluegrassfromtheforest.com .
The 21st annual Juan De Fuca Festival of the Arts is Memorial Day Weekend, May 22-26, in Port Angeles. The festival kicks off with a Wizard of Oz costume party with the band “Poor Man’s Whiskey” on Thursday, May 22. On Friday enjoy over 50 food, artisan, and craft booths at the colorful street fair that runs through Sunday. Throughout the weekend festival goers can enjoy over two dozen musicians and check out local artisans at work in The Art Shack. For a full schedule of events visit, www.jffa.org.
The Brass Screw Confederacy is an action-packed weekend bringing together a body of steampunks, Neo-Victorians, and sympathizers set in the Victorian seaport of Port Townsend to celebrate humanity’s progress toward a more convivial world. Witness artists, actors, and the aesthetically odd that embrace esoteric apparel, exotic experiments, and fantastical imaginations unfettered by trifles like physics and decorum. This year’s theme is “Octopi PT!” Revel in the Bazaar of the Bizarre, or see chrononauts, time travelers and modern steamers strut their fantastical, contraptional styles at the fashion show. The festival runs June 6-8 and more information can be found at www.brass-screw.org.
Chamber music in a barn? Thirty years ago the Olympic Music Festival in Quilcene started as a three weekend celebration and has since orchestrated itself into an 11 weekend festival that spans June through September. This June 28-29 enjoy Celebrated Clarinet Collaborations covering music from Mozart, Abrams, Bartók and Stravinsky. As always, the concerts will be held in the barn with wooden pew and straw bale seating, grass seating outside will be available as well. For more information, visit www.olympicmusicfestival.org.
Many small towns on the peninsula celebrate the 4th of July. This year Forks’ theme will be “Liberty and Justice for All”. This Independence Day celebration includes a community breakfast, fun run, kiddie parade, grand parade, salmon bake, demolition derby, and of course, fireworks. For a full list of all events, visit www.forkswa.com.
