LA PUSH — Quileute Days will celebrate the tribe’s heritage and its modern lifestyle during a three-day festival this weekend.
Rio Jaime, events coordinator for the tribe, expects about 2,000 visitors during the celebration that begins today.
Quileute Days royalty will be crowned at the Akalat Center at 4 p.m. today and Chinese students will perform the Lion Dance and other traditional dances at 6 p.m. today.
A parade is planned for noon Saturday and fireworks and a street dance are scheduled for about 10 p.m. Saturday.
Outboard canoe races are among the events scheduled. The races feature souped-up canoes that can attain speeds upwards of 50 mph.
“The power canoe races are unique to the Quileute and Quinault on Washington’s coast,” Jaime said. “We’re proud to keep this tradition going.”
About 30 vendors are expected during the weekend.
Here is the schedule for the weekend:
Today
• 4 p.m.: Royalty at the Akalat Center.
• 5 p.m.: Adult softball at the Adult Softball Field (all weekend); Youth Softball at the Youth Softball Field (all weekend).
• 6 p.m.: Chinese Culture Exchange at the Akalat Center.
• 7 p.m.: Traditional stick games at the Akalat Center.
• 10 p.m.: Street dance with DJ Camello on Main Street.
Saturday
• 10 a.m.: Traditional stick Games at the Akalat Center.
• Noon: Parade begins at Quileute Natural Resources building and moves down Main Street to the River’s Edge Restaurant. The lineup begins at 10 a.m.; judging is at 11 a.m.
• 1 p.m.: Poker tournament at the Tribal Office; horseshoe tournament at the Adult Softball Field; traditional fish bake on Main Street.
• 1:30 p.m.: Traditional dances on Main Street.
• 2 p.m.: Outboard canoe races on the Quillayute River; Kids Zone at the Old Community Center.
• 3 p.m.: Scavenger hunt on Main Street (2 p.m. registration).
• 4 p.m.: Kids race competition on Main Street.
• 6 p.m.: Talent show on Main Street.
• 10 p.m.: Fireworks at the Point; Street Dance with DJ Camello on Main Street.
Sunday
• 9 a.m.: 5K Family Fun Run starts at the Human Services building (8:30 a.m. registration).
• 2 p.m.: Outboard canoe races on the Quillayute River.
For more information, see www.quileutenation.org.