Olympic Art Festival and Sale

With the holidays upon us, many of us are casting an eye about for unique gift items. The upcoming Olympic Art Festival, at the Olympic Art Gallery in Quilcene, is a good place to start. Doors open at 10 a.m. and stay open until 5 p.m. Many artists will be on site demonstrating their crafts as well as selling them.

Look for the following artists (among others):
Mary Ellen Gilberg – Fiber and Scratchboard Art and Jewelry
Randy Hopfer – Photography
Paul Kaiser – Turned Bowls
Dean Nelson: Oils
Ratso: Bronze Sculpture
Terry Foltz: Scrollsaw Nature Scenes
Charlie and Sally Brown: Gates, railings, hand forged home decor. (more…)

More Olympic Peninsula “Fun Facts”

1. Which Olympic Peninsula location was a runner up for the filming of Disney’s second film in the series, “The Chronicles of Narnia?”
Answer: Quinault Valley

2. How did Port Townsend get its name?
Answer: Captain George Vancouver originally named the city “Port Townshend” in 1792 for his friend the Marquis of Townshend.

3. Which Native American tribes were located in what is now Jefferson County in the mid-19th century?
Answer: Chemakum (or Chimacum), Hoh (a group of the Quileute), Klallam (or Clallam), Quinault and Twana (Kilcid band-Anglicized: Quilcene).

4. Which towns on the Olympic Peninsula’s east side are known as, “The Emerald Towns?”
Answer: Quilcene & Brinnon

5. What are the 7 stocks of fish found in the Dungeness River?
Answer: Chinook; Chum; Coho; Pink; Steelhead; Cutthroat and Char.

Olympic Peninsula Fun Facts

While you may know the Olympic Peninsula as an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise, with old-growth forests for hiking, mountain biking and camping, scenic waters for boating, kayaking, fishing and diving, and of course, as home to award-winning artisan wineries, chances are there are a few things that you don’t know about this beautiful region of our state. Here are a few “fun facts” to add
to your knowledge base.

1. The Olympic Peninsula is home to the only rainforests in the Continental United States. These forests are among the rainiest places in the world.

2. The Quinault Valley is called the “Valley of the Giants” because 6 of the world’s largest species of evergreens reside there in relatively close walking distances from developed areas.

3. The Hood Canal town of Quilcene is world famous for its oysters.

4. At 7,980 feet, Mount Olympus is the highest peak in Olympic National Park and has the third largest glacial system in the contiguous U.S.

5. Where on the Olympic Peninsula can you find a herd of Roosevelt elk? In the cities or Brinnon, Sequim and Forks.