The Latest in PT
Fall in Love with Fall in Port Townsend in October
October is stunning in Port Townsend as the leaves take on saffron and russet hues. Fall foliage offers a riot of glorious shades of amber, pumpkin and ruby. The air is crisp with chilly nights, inspiring us to pull out our fleeces and coats, and if you catch a clear day, the sky seems bluer, with slanted sunlight gracing neighborhoods, marinas and trails. It’s the perfect time to get outside and see Mother Nature showing off, but it’s also a month of exciting events around town that will lure you inside. Check out what’s happening in Port Townsend this month, making this a favorite time of year to visit.
Photo by Deja View Photography
Thursday, October 3 is the Port Townsend Main Street’s 17th Annual Girl’s Night Out with the theme of Reach for the Stars! It’s a day filled with girlfriend camaraderie, celebration and fun. Port Townsend stores will be hosting special events, in-store promotions and refreshments from 11 am to 8 pm. The evening ends with the popular “Wrap” Party at 8 pm at the Cotton Building and admission is $10.
Girl’s Night Out Headquarters will also be at the Cotton Building. Get your goodie bags here ($25 while they last!) and pick up your Girl’s Night Out schedule of events to plan your fun. Goodie bags are filled with gifts from local downtown businesses with coupon books and more.
Proceeds from Girl’s Night Out benefit Jefferson Healthcare Foundation to help provide breast and cervical cancer screenings, care and treatment for low income Jefferson County residents, as well as the Port Townsend Main Street Program, a 501c3 non-profit. For more info, go to www.ptmainstreet.org/event/pt-main-street-girls-night-out/.
Photo by Diane Urbani de la Paz
Don’t miss Key City Public Theatre’s October’s production of Sea Marks, opening October 3 and running through October 19, Thursdays through Sundays at 7:30 pm, with 2:30 pm performances on Sundays.
Sea Marks is an Irish love story. He is a rough-hewn fisherman, living by the sea, on a remote island off the West of Ireland. She lives in Liverpool where she works in a book publishing house. They meet. Letters follow—letters full of powerful, alluring words like she’s never heard before…. Gardner McKay’s play beautifully captures the heartache of long-distance love and when the call of the heart challenges the call of the wild. Tickets are $24 Thursdays and Sundays, $29 on Fridays and Saturdays. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to www.keycitypublictheatre.org.
The 37th Annual Great Port Townsend Bay Kinetic Sculpture Race launches Saturday, October 5, with thrills, chills, songs, and, of course, there will be glory! Kinautikal is the theme this year—some of the best things are “under the sea” or on the sea. It all begins Saturday with the parade line up beginning at 10 am and the parade starts at low noon in downtown Port Townsend. The Rosehips Kween Koronation Ball is from 8 pm-midnight at the American Legion Hall, where you can dance the night away to Marmalade from Fremont. Sunday, October 6, the Kinetic Sculpture, Sand and Mud Kourse Race begins at low noon, concluding with the Racer’s Dinner and Awards Ceremony at 6 pm where everyone will bask in the glory! For more info, go to www.ptkineticrace.org
Celebrate the season and taste the region at the 3rd Annual Olympic Peninsula Apple and Cider Festival, October 11-13. Hosted by East Jefferson County cider makers, this three-day event begins Friday evening with a Harvest Dinner at the Palindrome, home to Eaglemount Wine & Cider, followed Saturday morning with a robust farmers market. The party revs up at the Palindrome in the afternoon with a pop-up bottle shop, “Cider Saloon,” featuring over 40 regional ciders, apple pressing and live music. The Fall Fire Party at Propolis Brewing is from 5 pm to midnight with food trucks, a fire show and a dance party. Start your day Sunday with a Barbarian Cider Breakfast at Alpenfire Cidery, followed by cider pressing and seminars in the afternoon, culminating with an all-ages World Apple Day Fair at Finnriver Cidery. For a truly authentic Pacific Northwest, tree-to-glass experience, go to www.AppleandCiderFest.com.
And for the kiddos (and adults, too!), don’t miss the Port Townsend Main Street’s 25th Annual Downtown Trick or Treat, October 31. To commemorate this 25th milestone, the Port Townsend Main Street Program Promotion Committee is scheduling the Main Street Town Photo for the start of the parade. The friendly Main Street Witches will be in the front row, and then lead off the parade after the photo. Gather at Water and Adams Streets at 4 pm. The photo will be taken at 4:15 pm sharp! Our merchants will be offering treats for the kids…and, you never know, maybe some tricks too!
Be open to the possibilities at Haunted Histories & Mysteries of Port Townsend, November 1 and 2. Come for a weekend of ghostly fun along the waterfront at one of our town’s newest events. Our colorful town has many tales to tell—of shipwrecks, shanghaiing, unexplained events and a haunted past that is felt even today. Prepare to be intrigued, entertained, educated and yes, even frightened during your time spent immersed in the haunted atmosphere of our historic seaport. Tickets are on sale now at www.eventbrite.com – search Haunted Histories & Mysteries of Port Townsend.
Save the date for upcoming events in November and early December:
November 2-3
Jefferson County Holiday Craft Fair
www.jeffcofairgrounds.com/events/hoiday-fair/
November 2-3
14th Annual Port Townsend Woodworkers’ Show
www.ptwoodschool.org/events/
November 9-10
Harvest Wine and Cider Tour
www.olympicpeninsulawineries.org
November 29-30
Port Townsend Arts Guild Holiday Craft Sale
www.porttownsendartsguild.org/events.html
November 30
Main Street’s Merchants’ Open House and Small Business Saturday
www.ptmainstreet.org
December 7
Main Street’s Community Treelighting and Santa’s Visit
www.ptmainstreet.org
December 11-29
Key City Public Theatre’s Spirit of the Yule
Visit us this fall and enjoy everything Port Townsend!
Set Sail to Port Townsend in September for Fun, Food, Farms and Films!
Many of us think September is the best month of the year. The days are warm and nights turn crisp. Slanted sun rays cast magical light early in the morning and late into the afternoon with a wash of golden color wherever you look. Leaves are turning to shades of russet, saffron and amber, falling to the ground and giving a little crunch under your feet.
You might think we’d want to keep this a secret, but no! We welcome you to come and enjoy this glorious time of year with amazing festivals, events and activities to inspire, amuse, entertain and delight you.
Check out what’s happening this month!
Wooden Boat Festival photo by Mitchel Osborne Photography
America’s largest Wooden Boat Festival celebrates its 43rd year and opens Friday, September 6 at 9 am with tall ships, paddleboards, kayaks, tugboats, a fleet of wooden boats and everything in between. Demonstrations, presentations, plays, music, dancing, and great food provide a weekend of fun for everyone. Running through Sunday, September 8, the festival is open until 6 pm Friday and Saturday nights, with music on the main stage until midnight both nights, and from 9 am to 5 pm on Sunday.
Organized and presented by the Northwest Maritime Center, the festival features 300 wooden boats, 100 presenters from around the world sharing their adventures, talents, and expertise on four indoor and four outdoor stages, plus 50 exhibitors and live music all weekend on the main stage. Meet the authors of the latest cruising, adventure and technical books at the Authors Tent. Find quaint bars, delicious artisan food and unbelievable scenery at this festival on the Salish Sea.
There are boat rides for all ages. The Kids Cove offers kids’ boatbuilding, fish painting on t-shirts, Captain Pirate’s Treasure Hunt, Captain Cloud’s Latest Adventure—a play on the North Star Stage and on-the-water adventures.
Try Stand-Up Paddleboarding (SUP), row or sail a longboat, tour the harbor on the Martha J, sail on the historic schooners Adventuress, Zodiac or Martha. Row a historic replica of George Vancouver’s 1792 ship.
The weekend concludes with the awe-inspiring “Sail-By” at 3 pm on Sunday where hundreds of wooden vessels of all sizes and shapes pour out of the harbor and sail along the waterfront in full sail celebration. “If you are into wooden boats or just looking for a great party, Port Townsend is the place to be the second weekend of September,” said Northwest Maritime Center Executive Director Jake Beattie.
For the weekend’s full schedule of events, presentations, and activities during the festival, visit www.woodenboat.org.
If you’re eager to experience a working farm and connect with local farmers, don’t miss the 17th Annual Jefferson County Farm Tour, September 21 and 22. With 19 Jefferson County farms participating in the tour you’ll meet many of the people that are part of the county’s thriving food, fiber, cider, and oyster processing and production. The list of farms also includes yaks, alpacas, Arabian horses, wine makers, a meadery, seed production and much more. Experience farm tours, live music, educational demonstrations and kid’s activities.
The tour is free and open to everyone with a suggested donation of $10 per car. For a full listing of events, call 360.379.5610 or go to www.extension.wsu.edu/jefferson/agriculture/farm-tour/.
The 20th Annual Port Townsend Film Festival kicks off Thursday, September 19th and concludes on Sunday, September 22nd.
This is the perfect festival for introverts, who can sit in the dark all day and watch movies. And it’s perfect for extroverts who love a good party. The Port Townsend Film Festival has it all. In Port Townsend’s walkable National Historic Landmark District on the waterfront, 98 new independent films will be screened in eight theatres, for three days.
Appearing in person, with his film The Primary Instinct, is character actor, writer and podcaster, Stephen Tobolowsky, who has appeared in over 200 films and will be interviewed on stage for an hour after his screening.
Author Cheryl Strayed appears for a live interview after the screening of her formative film My Brilliant Career. More than 60 filmmakers also appear for Q&A after their films are screened.
The festival includes an outdoor movie under the stars, Friday – Sunday, filmmaker storytelling panels, special events, private parties, plus food and drink, including a Mediterranean Feast on Taylor Street, Friday at 4:30 pm.
See the entire program and buy your pass at www.ptfilmfest.com.
A Few Upcoming Events in October—Save the Dates!
- October 3 – Port Townsend Main Street’s Girls’ Night Out, www.ptmainstreet.org
- October 5 – Port Townsend Art Walk, First Saturdays from 5:30-8 pm
- October 5-6 – Port Townsend Kinetic Sculpture Race, www.ptkineticrace.org
- October 3-19 – Key City Public Theatre presents Sea Marks, www.keycitypublictheatre.org
- October 11-12, 18-19 & 24-26 & 31 – Kiwanis Haunt Town, www.port-townsend.kiwanisone.org
- October 31 – Main Street Downtown Trick or Treat, www.ptmainstreet.org
- We can’t wait to welcome you to Port Townsend!
August in PT is in Full Swing with Music and Fun at Every Turn!
Party down in Port Townsend in August with live music all around town, Shakespeare in the Park and summer fairs for the whole family. You won’t want to miss a minute!
The Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival heats up the park with “Blues in the Clubs” as a moveable feast of great music for all ages in various venues at Fort Worden State Park. One nightly wristband gives you the freedom to move around to all the venues throughout the evening, gaining the full benefit of the club experience. Centrum’s Blues faculty will play sets in all sorts of interesting combinations on Friday, August 2 and Saturday, August 3 from 8 pm – midnight. For more information, go to https://centrum.org/port-townsend-acoustic-blues-festival-performances/.
Key City Public Theatre is proud to present “The Merry Wives of Windsor” at Shakespeare in the Park this month. Jealousy, glamour, ego and lies. In this contemporary version of Shakespeare’s merry comedy, Sir John Falstaff returns to Chetzemoka Park with plans to hustle his way to comfortable retirement by seducing two of Windsor’s prominent wives. But these wealthy and witty women hold all the power throughout an outrageously funny picnic outing. The ladies finally have their day in this summer’s Shakespeare in the Park, adapted and directed by Denise Winter.
Performances run Aug. 2 through 25, outdoors in beautiful Chetzemoka Park (Jackson and Blaine Streets), Fridays through Sundays at 6 pm. All performances are Pay-What-You-Wish at the gate, with advance tickets costing $29, available at the playhouse box office at 360.385.KCPT (5278) or online at http://www.keycitypublictheatre.org/.
Audience members are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs for seating on the grass and to dress warmly for when the sun goes down. Picnic fare is welcome. Concessions will also be sold.
The dock is still rockin’ for a few more weeks at the free, all-ages, outdoor Concerts on the Dock in downtown Port Townsend. Sponsored by the Port Townsend Main Street Program, the concerts will be Thursdays, August 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29, at the Pope Marine Park/City Dock Civic Plaza. Local vendors and a beer, wine and cider garden will contribute to the festive atmosphere. Help us “Go Green” by renting a reusable cup during the concert and returning it at the end of the show. So far this has dramatically reduced the amount plastic used at each concert. Seating opens at 4:30 pm, show starts at 5 pm and ends at 7:30 pm. Bring a chair or a blanket and settle in for some great tunes. For the list of bands, go to http://ptmainstreet.org/concerts-on-the-dock/.
The Jefferson County Fair welcomes you to this year’s Jammin’ Jungle-themed fair, August 9, 10 and 11. Meet farm animals up close. Cheer on riders as they put their horses through their paces. See the largest fruits, vegetables and flowers grown in Jefferson County. Hear music from fantastic bands and get your dancin’ boots on. Take a turn at riding the bull. Indulge in an elephant ear or a corn dog. Or watch the demo derby or mud drag. It’s everything a country fair should be—don’t miss it!
Open 10 am to 9 pm Friday and Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm Sunday. For more details and ticket info, visit http://jeffcofairgrounds.com.
The Olympic Music Festival (OMF) presents its 36th annual summer season in partnership with Centrum at Fort Worden. World-class chamber music performances take place at the Joseph F. Wheeler Theater, Saturdays and Sundays at 2 pm, August 10 through September 8. Programming also includes a free family concert on Sunday, August 25 from 10:30 am – noon at the Northwest Maritime Center.
Since the beginning of his tenure in 2014, OMF Artistic Director Julio Elizalde has electrified audiences by presenting world-class artists on the Olympic Peninsula in programs that center on the classical chamber music repertoire and, on occasion, venture into styles such as American folk music and jazz. To purchase tickets and for more detailed information about the performances, go to www.olympicmusicfestival.org or call 360.385.9699.
Photo by Deja View Photography
On August 17, the beloved Annual Uptown Street Fair and Parade celebrates 29 years of fun in Uptown and includes great local music, the Port Townsend Arts & Crafts Fair, the Jefferson County Farmers Market, tasty food on the street, free art activities for families and much more.
Come hang out with the Uptown businesses and neighbors for the day at this colorful community event. The Arts and Crafts Fair and Farmers Market begin at 9 am; kids’ activities follow from 10 am – 3 pm, and music from 10 am – 4:45 pm. The parade and awards are at 2 pm. Come make a day of it in historic, pedestrian-friendly Uptown. Lawrence Street and Tyler Street are closed for the Street Fair, as well as the Farmers Market location on Polk Street. Bring your appetite—there will be delicious local food vendors at the event. Coordinated by the Port Townsend Main Street Program and sponsored by generous local businesses. For more information, go to http://ptmainstreet.org.
The Art Port Townsend 21st Annual Artist Studio Tour is a festival of the visual arts featuring an open studio tour of local artists. The tour is the final event of the annual Art Port Townsend Festival. Professional artists open their studios to provide demonstrations and display their work in many different mediums such as oil, watercolor, acrylic, pastels, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, woodworking, fabric arts, glass and a variety of mixed media. This annual event is a “must see” for regional artists and art lovers. There is no charge for the self-guided tour, running August 17-18 from 10 am – 4 pm. For more information and a map of the studios, go to https://northwindarts.org/programs/studio-tour/
A new thing. A fun thing. An arts thing. This summer will find a fresh alternative for music and arts enthusiasts in THING, a new multidisciplinary event August 24 and 25 at Fort Worden. Produced by Seattle Theatre Group (STG) and Adam Zacks—STG’s Chief Programming Office and founder of the Sasquatch! Festival—this two-day event features a unique offering of tightly curated programming including music, comedy, film, dance, food, podcasts, visual arts, and…a mentalist. Go to www.thingnw.org for tickets, schedule and program info.
Don’t miss the party in August. Visit us for an amazing getaway and enjoy all things Port Townsend!
A Few Upcoming Events in September—Save the Dates!
43rd Annual Wooden Boat Festival, September 6-8
Olympic Music Festival at Fort Worden, September 1, 7 & 8
Centrum’s Ukulele Festival, September 11-15
20th Annual Port Townsend Film Festival, September 20-22
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