Port Townsend Steampunk

The Brass Screw Confederacy is the Olympic Peninsula’s signature Steampunk event. Set in the beautiful Victorian community of Port Townsend, The Brass Screw Confederacy weekend is full of adventure, art, music and mayhem. It will be taking place this year the weekend of June 7th.

Port Townsend will embrace a history that might have been with this quirky festival. Sponsored by the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce’s Young Professionals Network (YPN), the three-day event introduces a new twist on the city’s Victorian heritage, taking place in Port Townsend’s National Historic Landmark Districts.

The Brass Screw Confederacy event invites participants to step into a world somewhere between 1881 and a “time yet to be,” celebrating creativity, weird science and a sense of the absurd.

Classic Victorian homes like this one make Port Townsend a perfect place for a Steampunk Event.

Classic Victorian homes like this one make Port Townsend a perfect place for a Steampunk Event.

Festivities will include live music, a strange science fair, absinthe tastings and burlesque, as well as a Steampunk zombie hunt. Performers, artist-vendors (known as “bodgers” in the Steampunk world), and an extraordinarily well-dressed assembly of participants will transform Port Townsend into a “City of Dreams.”

Event  co-chair Dominc Svornich says, “Sometimes you need to look backward, in order to go forward. We view Steampunk as a positive regression, drawing a new audience to experience our Victorian seaport and arts community.”

The weekend’s itinerary will culminate with the Steampunk Hootenanny, a vaudeville show, Saturday night. Bring a sense of adventure and come experience something completely different!

What is Steampunk?

According to Wikipedia, “Steampunk is a literary genre which came into prominence during the 1980s and early 1990s and incorporates elements of science fiction, fantasy, alternative history, horror, and speculative fiction. It involves a setting where steam power is widely used—whether in an alternate history such as Victorian era Britain or “Wild West”-era United States —that incorporates elements of either science fiction or fantasy. Works of Steampunk often feature anachronistic technology, or futuristic innovations as Victorians might have envisioned them, based on a Victorian perspective on fashion, culture, architectural style, and art.”

Wine Fits Right In

What could be more appropriate for a weekend of Victorian silliness than some delicious wine? We invite you to come by one of our wineries over the weekend. Both FairWinds and Finnriver Wineries are located in Port Townsend, with our other six member wineries located around the beautiful Olympic Peninsula.

 

 

Port Angeles Events for December

Port Angeles, the largest town on the Olympic Peninsula, has a couple events taking place next month you may want to attend.

Port Angeles Farmer’s Market

Attending the Farmer’s market in the morning is a great way to start the day. Buy a steaming hot cup of coffee, peruse the different food stuffs for sale from local farms and artisans. Pick out something delicious to for dinner and surprise your family. Then, stop by one of our member wineries for some Washington wine to complement the meal.

port-angeles-events

Veggies from local producer Nash’s Farm. Photo courtesy of Devon Beck.

The market takes place from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. every Saturday, year round. Other items for sale include Fair Trade organic coffee, organic bread, produce, eggs, jams and honey, unique handcrafted candles, soaps, hats, baskets, pottery, scarfs, tie-dye.

Second Weekend Art Event

For a small and somewhat remote town, Port Angeles has its fair share of artists.  On the second Friday of every month, the galleries hold openings and shows to kick off another weekend of art events.

Saturday morning take a walk with artists Bob Stokes, Harry von Stark and others to learn more about artists’ media, methods and inspirations. Meet at the Landing Mall on Railroad the Second Saturday of the month at 11:00 a.m.

Galleries in Port Angeles

Landings Art Gallery – Located inside the Landing Mall at 115 Railroad Ave., the work of local artists is on display and for sale. Many of these same artists work in the gallery as volunteers rather than paying a large membership fee. Showing now are artists from Port Angeles, Sequim, Port Townsend, Port Ludlow, Shelton and Burlington. Paintings, jewelry, metalwork and woodwork are some of the media for sale.

Studio Bob – Located at 118 1/2 E Front St., Studio Bob is an active participant in Second Weekend events. Stop by Friday night for a new art opening promoting different groups of artists.

Waterfront Art Gallery – This space is a cooperative gallery of local artists and quality crafts people. Located at 120 W. First St., Waterfront Gallery displays watercolors, oil, pastel, wood block, glass, photography, jewelry, pottery, magnets and cards.

Do you know what goes perfect with art? Wine. That’s why they serve it at every opening! Learn about how wineries on the Olympic Peninsula use the best grapes from all over the state when making their products.

Port Angeles Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival

Friday thru Sunday, October 12-14, 2012 ~ Free Admission ~ Downtown Port Angles, WA

The Dungeness Crab

Renown in culinary circles the world over, the Dungeness crabs is named for the Dungeness Valley right here on the North Olympic Peninsula. What better way to honor our delicious local crab than to eat a LOT of it?

Seafood Festival Details

The festival begins a 4:00 p.m. Friday with the Community Crab Feed. Come to the big tent and dig in! You’ll get $5 off fresh crab dinners and there will also be wine, beer, coffee, desserts and live music.

Throughout Saturday and Sunday, the Crab Fest cooking demos will give you a chance to learn how to make some great seafood recipes. This year’s special guest chefs are Becky Selengut, the author of Good Fish, and Garret Schack, Executive Chef of Vista 18 in Victoria, B.C. They and Olympic Peninsula chefs will show you how it’s done, including how to correctly clean and cook a whole crab.

Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival Port Angeles

A healthy helping of fresh local seafood at the Port Angeles Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival

When you come to downtown Port Angeles, you can’t miss the big tent. That’s where to go to get a big plate of freshly cooked delicious seafood. And just outside, the main stage will keep the live music going all weekend long.

On City Pier, more than 50 craft, merchant and food vendor booths will be set up for you to shop, eat (more!) and peruse. City Pier is also the place to go for the fun and daring of the the grab-a-crab tank derby. The Feiro Marine Life Center is right there, too. Kids and adults enjoy the exhibits, especially the touch tank with live sea creatures. Both Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. everyone like to get a good spot on the pier and its tower to see the exciting U.S. Coast Guard air-sea rescue demonstration.

For those with a slight competitive streak, there’s a Hollywood Beach volleyball tournament Saturday and Sunday and a 5K fun run on Saturday.

Sunday’s Crab Revival and Sunday Brunch serves up a fine breakfast menu from 9-10:30 a.m. and there’s a non-denominational service with live gospel music.

Olympic Peninsula Wineries are proud to be a major sponsor of this annual event celebrating our fresh local seafood. Be sure to stop by the Crab Festival Wine & Beer Garden to taste wines from all eight wineries.

September 28-29, 2012 Dungeness River Festival in Sequim, WA

Driftwood Art

In addition to fun exhibits, presentations, live music, food and dancing, the annual Dungeness River Festival also showcases the creativity of local artists with the Olympic Driftwood Sculptors Art Show.

Friday & Saturday ~ 10 am to 4 pm ~ Free Admission
Railroad Bridge Park at 2151 W. Hendrickson Road in Sequim, WA

The annual Dungeness River Festival celebrates the waters that are so precious to the Sequim-Dungeness Valley. Every year, local, state, federal, tribal and non-profit entities active in the Dungeness watershed provide interactive, educational exhibits for the enjoyment of all ages. In addition to the fun exhibits, the festival entertains visitors with live music, food, nature walks and more.

The theme for this year’s Dungeness River Festival is “Let’s Go Green!” In keeping with this theme, the 2012 River Festival in Sequim will be offering a new event: Landscaping with Nature. On Friday at 2:30 pm, Joe Holtrop, District Manager of the Clallam Conservation District, will give a presentation in the Dungeness River Audubon Center. Afterwards, he will lead a walk in Railroad Bridge Park. Property owners and gardeners will be sure to learn a great deal from Joe’s many years of experience in sustainable landscaping.

On Friday, the Five Acre School band, Sound Waves, will play marimba music that will make you want to dance! They will play two sets on the River Stage, one at 10:30 am and another at 12:30 pm.

For Friday’s events, children will be visiting on school field trips to take part in the day’s activities. They can play the ‘Animal Olympics,’ enjoy the educational games provided by the exhibitors and, if they bring a T-shirt or pillow case, they can make their very own fish print. These are just a few of the fun ways the festival inspires a sense of stewardship in the next generation.

On Saturday, highlight events include the 10 am traditional welcoming ceremony by the Jamestown S’Klallam drummers and singers. Festival goers can also see beautiful artwork by the Olympic Driftwood Sculptors. Their fourth annual art show will take place in the River Center both Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm. Saturday also features fun dancing events with the Olympic Mountain Cloggers at 11 am and zumba at 12:30 pm. The afternoon delights continue with ongoing exhibitions, Music in the Park, and a drumming circle.

For more information on this family-friendly Sequim, WA event, visit DungenessRiverCenter.org.

Port Townsend 2012 September Festivals: Wooden Boat Fest and the Film Festival

Wooden Boat by Swedish boat builder Carl Gustav Pettersson

Walk through Point Hudson Marina in Port Townsend to see beautifully crafted wooden vessels of every type, from kayaks to three masted ships!

Two of the biggest events of the year are coming to Port Townsend, WA in September. Don’t miss these favorite cultural festivals on the Olympic Peninsula:

September 7-9, 2012 Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival
This is the 36th annual festival celebrating the tradition of wooden boat building on the Olympic Peninsula. Come to downtown Port Townsend and Point Hudson Marina to see the beautiful boats, learn, sail and buy. More than 300 wooden boats will be on display. There will also be many opportunities to learn through hundreds of presentations and demonstrations offered throughout the weekend. The bustling crowds, fun activities for the kids, exciting races and live music add to the festive atmosphere of this Port Townsend maritime heritage celebration.

For more information and to buy tickets online, visit WoodenBoat.org/festival.

13th Annual Port Townsend Film Festival

The magic of cinema returns to downtown Port Townsend, WA with the 13th Annual Port Townsend Film Festival this September.

September 21-23, 2012 Port Townsend Film Festival
This beloved Pacific Northwest film festival fills Port Townsend’s streets with movie lovers of all ages and tastes. It’s a wonderful block party with the added excitement of a surprise celebrity guest every year. In addition to enjoying great films, there will be informative discussion panels and talks with filmmakers, actors and writers.

Watch classic movies as well as exciting premiers of new films at different movie venues in town and on the giant screen set up in the middle of downtown. This year’s outer space theme is behind the new addition to the 2012 PT Film Fest: the Area 51 Cocktail Lounge. Area 51 at 607 Water Street will keep you “refreshed” throughout the weekend.

See the full schedule of events at PTfilmfest.com. Tickets can also be purchased online or at the venues listed on the website.

Choose local wines and ciders made by the wineries of the Olympic Peninsula during these great events! Many of the fine cafes and restaurants in Port Townsend, WA serve Olympic Peninsula wines. On your way to and from Port Townsend, stop by our Olympic Peninsula wineries. You can also take a break from the crowds and visit the local Olympic Peninsula tasting rooms.

2012 County Fairs on the Olympic Peninsula

Olympic Peninsula county fairs

Flying high at the county fair.

Late summer is the beginning of the harvest season. It’s a tradition throughout the agricultural communities of the U.S. to have county fairs celebrating the bounty produced by local farms. The wineries of the Olympic Peninsula are proud to be part of the rich agricultural heritage of the North Olympic Peninsula and the counties of East Jefferson and Clallam. Every year, all of us look forward to the Jefferson County and Clallam County Fairs. The Jefferson County Fair in the eastern part of the Olympic Peninsula will be having their festivities first. Clallam’s County Fair follows the next weekend. Tickets are available at the gate or you can save on the cost by pre-purchasing your tickets.

 

 

 

2012 Jefferson County Fair in Port Townsend, WA
August 10-12, 2012 at 4907 Landes Street
Hours: Fri.-Sat. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. ~ Sun. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
JeffCoFairgrounds.com/JeffCo_Site/JeffCo_Fair.html

2012 Clallam County Fair in Port Angeles, WA
August 16-19, 2012 at 1608 West 16th Street
Hours: Thurs-Sat: 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. (gates close at 9 p.m.) ~ Sun. 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Thursday is Kids’ Day, so children 12 and under are FREE until 6 p.m.
Clallam.net/Fair

Both fairs will offer competitions, fun fair rides, demonstrations, live music, art shows and much more. Get an elephant ear, walk through the different exhibits of animals, foods and crafts and enjoy the family-friendly atmosphere of the local county fairs!

We highly recommend you check out both fairs since every county fair is a little different. The many different microclimates and growing conditions in our area affect the flavors of similar products. For example, the honey from one farm won’t taste the same as the honey at another farm because the bees are feeding from different kinds of flowers. It’s part of the magic of experiencing handcrafted local foods.

While you travel between fairs, be sure to stop at the wineries of the Olympic Peninsula which are located all along the route between Port Townsend and Port Angeles. It’s a perfect way to get a full taste of the local foods, ciders and wines of the Olympic Peninsula’s fields, orchards and vineyards!

2012 Juan de Fuca Festival

The Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts in Port Angeles is one of the most exciting events on the Olympic Peninsula. 2012 promises to be better than ever!

Two Man Gentlemen Band Memorial Day Weekend Port Angeles

The Two Man Gentlemen Band performs at the Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts.

The festival begins on Thursday, May 24, with a Pre-Festival Kickoff Event: African Rhythms — Celtic Soul. Early festival goers will be treated to Baka Beyond, a highly original Afro-Celtic danceband. Band members come from six different European and African countries. Keeping still while you listen is not an option. This could be worth an extra long weekend.

Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts celebrates the arts in all its mediums, but it is music that takes center stage.

The 2012 lineup includes:

  • Allen Stone, the amazing 24 year son of a preacher man who is taking the world by the ears.
  • Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited, known as the Lion of Zimbabwe.
  • Locarno, featuring Tom Landa and an exciting blend of Mexican, Cuban Son, Folk Music, Pop and Funk.
  • The Two Man Gentlemen Band, playing hot, raucous, retro swing.

(more…)

Sequim Irrigation Festival

Sequim Irrigation Festival

The Irrigation Festival is underway!

The 2012 annual Sequim Irrigation Festival begins today, May 4. The theme is 117 & Still Growin’ Green.

The Irrigation Festival flows from the vast irrigation system that early settlers created. Sequim was transformed from a dry valley to a land of fertile fields and abundant crops. Agriculture remains an important part of Sequim’s economy and identity, as a trip to the weekly Farmers Market reveals.

The Irrigation Festival begins with the First Friday Art Walk, when Sequim’s art galleries stay open late and host special events.

It continues on May 5 and 6 with an Arts and Crafts Fair on Bell Street, between Sequim and 2nd Avenues. Each year brings a great variety of items, food booths, and local entertainment. The weekly Sequim Open Aire Market, on Cedar Street between Sequim and 2nd Avenues, showcases a wealth of fresh produce from local farmers.

Look for various Olympic Peninsula Wineries and Cideries at the markets, and bring a bottle of Washington State Wine home with you, to help you remember the event.

Sequim Irrigation Festival Parade

Watch the Grand Parade on May 12.

The following weekend starts Friday evening with a Logging Show, a Truck and Tractor Pull, and a Strongman Showdown. This brawny evening concludes with fireworks.

Saturday, May 12 is the Kids Parade, the Classic Car Show, and the 117th Irrigation Festival Grand Parade.

The Carnival comes to town Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. As always, there’ll be rides and fun for the entire family.

Sequim’s Irrigation Festival runs May 4-13, 2012. Come enjoy the nation’s oldest festival.

The Port Townsend Farmers Market

Spring is here, and spring means farmers markets. It’s hard to beat the farmers markets you’ll find on the Olympic Peninsula.

Port Townsend Farmers Market live music

Live music at the Port Townsend Farmers Market.

Last year, the Port Townsend Farmers Market was recognized as the best large Farmers Market in the state. Colorful produce lines the stalls, the smell of freshly-baked breads permeates the air, and music sets the mood. People shop, congregate, eat and dance. Is there a better place to be between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on a Saturday? We think not.

Port Townsend Farmers Market

Check out the Port Townsend Farmers Market, Saturday mornings.

In a few weeks, the smaller but no less note-worthy Chimacum Corner Farmers Market opens. It starts May 20 and runs Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through the fall. If you happen to find yourself craving fresh produce on a Sunday in Chimacum prior to that, stop by the Chimacum Corner Farmstand. You can’t miss it; it’s the cheerful yellow store in the heart of Chimacum.

Spend a weekend on the Olympic Peninsula this spring. Visit Olympic Peninsula Wineries* and taste locally made, Washington State wine. Visit the Port Townsend Farmers Market and stock up on locally grown fresh produce and other treats. Discover the bounty of the Pacific Northwest.

* Several of our member Washington State Wineries and Cideries are located in and around Port Townsend. FairWinds Winery is located in Port Townsend. Eaglemount Wine and Cider is located outside of Port Townsend off Route 20, and Finnriver Farm & Cidery is located in Chimacum.

Photos from the Port Townsend Farmers Market Video by Oliver Henry.

Bless the Trees That Bear Fruit

Wine and cider depend upon healthy fruit. This is true whether they’re made in Washington State, France, or Australia. Without an abundance of healthy fruit, winemakers and cider makers have nothing. We know it, too, and we are eternally grateful for the bounty of Mother Nature.

Washington State Cider from Olympic Peninsula.

Trees. Blossoms. Fruit. We are blessed.

Finnriver Farm & Cidery is leaving nothing to chance. All are invited to join them on Saturday, March 24, 2012 from 2:30 to 4:30 for their annual Community Apple Orchard Blessing.

This is a festive occasion. The Apple Orchard Blessing includes a bagpipe processional through the apple orchard, story-telling, hot cider, songs, and tree blessing. All ages are welcome, from babes in arms to older folks leaning on elbows and canes.

March is Washington State Wine Month. In honor of this, folks who visit the Tasting Room at Finnriver Farm and Cider will receive 15% off any purchase of the following cider & fruit wine cocktail pairings.

     Pear Squared. Celebrate the elegance of the pear.

     Pear in Love. Features Finnriver’s newly released Raspberry Brandy Wine.

     Black Currant Kir Finnriver. A local twist on the classic kir.

The 2012 Port Townsend Victorian Festival

Port Townsend WA Victorian Festival

A Victorian masterpiece--the Ann Starret Mansion, in Port Townsend.

March 23-25, 2012, is the 16th annual Port Townsend Victorian Festival. Immerse yourself in a different time for one weekend. Return to the present only to refresh yourself with a glass of Washington Wine from one of the Olympic Peninsula Wineries in and near Port Townsend.

What can you do during the Victorian Festival? You can:

  • Study Victorian architecture.
  • Attend a Temperance Meeting.
  • Watch a 19th Century Fencing Demo.
  • Speak with a Victorian Naturalist.
  • Learn about the Victorian Corset.
  • Watch a Fashion Show.
  • Watch an 1800s style Prize Fight.
  • Have a Victorian Tea.
  • Dress up.
  • See dressed-up people.
  • Attend a Victorian Ball.

If you are enchanted with the Victorian age, come to the Port Townsend Victorian Festival, March 23-25. It’s fun.

Remember the occasion with a bottle of Washington State Wine from the Olympic Peninsula.