PORT ANGELES — “Bella Luna: A New Moon Celebration,” which will mark the release of “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” movie, promises to entertain both fans of the vampire novels and those who have never read any of the four books, said the chairwoman of the two-day festival that begins today.
A dog talent contest — Dogs Got Talent — and dog fashion contest — America’s Next Top Dog — will be fun for owner and pet alike, said Kim Trenerry-Mogi, chairwoman of the Port Angeles Downtown Association celebration, as well as the Port Angeles branch of Dazzled by Twilight, a souvenir shop. The first Dazzled by Twilight is in Forks.
“What person doesn’t love watching dog tricks?” Trenerry-Mogi said.
A scavenger hunt, Quileute storytellers and a performance by the hometown rock band Lonely H also all part of the festivities, which will have, as their grand finale, a Gothic Ball on Saturday night.
The weekend is full of events both today and Saturday — and most of them are free, Trenerry-Mogi.
“It is incredible how many things we can offer for free for fans and residents of the area,” she said.
“Everyone has really pulled together to make this a great event.”
Coincide with movie
The celebration begins today to coincide with the release of the movie based on the second book in Stephenie Meyer’s series of teen love and vampires set in Forks, LaPush and Port Angeles.
The movie was shown right after midnight, in today’s early hours, in both Port Angeles at the Lincoln Theater at 132 E. First St. and Port Townsend at The Rose Theatre at 235 Taylor St.
In Port Angeles, “New Moon” was on two screens at the Lincoln Theater, with one showing at 12:01 a.m. today, and the other at 12:15 a.m. The earlier move was preceded, at 9:15 p.m. Thursday, by “Twilight,” which was released last November and is based on the first novel in the vampire series.
Those who missed the first two screenings have more chances to see the film.
It will be screened at the Lincoln Theater at 2 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. today, with screenings expected for at least the next two weeks.
Tickets are available each day when the box office opens.
In Port Townsend, the Rose Theatre also had a midnight showing of “New Moon,” and will show the film at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. today through Thursday, with additional screenings at 10 p.m. today and Saturday, at 12:30 p.m. Saturday and at 1 p.m. Sunday. Advance tickets are available at the theater or online at www.rosetheatre.com.
Other events
In addition to the contests for dogs, humans will get their chance to show off in the Wolf Pack Six-Pack contest.
Meyer’s best-selling books — Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn — are the story of human Bella Swan and her vampire suitor Edward Cullen. In the first book, the star-crossed lovers begin to date, but in the second book Edward breaks up with Bella and moves away, leaving the teen brokenhearted.
In his absence, she bonds with her best friend, Jacob Black, one of a pack of werewolves, and he tries to win her heart.
When the teenagers begin transforming into werewolves, they grow very tall very quickly and also become very muscular.
That led to the idea for the contest, in which contestants will show off their abs.
Prizes will be given in both the dog and wolf-pack contests.
The dog fashion contest will be from 2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. Saturday at The Landing mall, 115 E. Railroad Ave.
The dog talent contest will be from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at The Gateway pavilion at Front and Lincoln streets.
The six-pack contest will be from 5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday at The Gateway.
Trivia contest
A trivia contest will be today from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at The Gateway
“This contest is all about New Moon,” said Trenerry-Mogi. “Some of the questions are really tough.”
Also, Trenerry-Mogi said, presentations today and Saturday by Olympic National Park Ranger Dean Butterworth would appeal to non-Twilight fans.
“It will be interesting to hear about all the wildlife in the park,” she said.
“Of course, fans know that the reason it appeals to us is because the Cullens hunt for blood there, but this will be educational and fun for even those who are not huge fans.”
A motorcycle exhibit featuring the first police motorcycle on the North Olympic Peninsula will run from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday at The Landing mall.
“What guy doesn’t love to look at motorcycles?” said Barb Frederick, director of the Port Angeles Downtown Association.
Frederick talked about the event on Vancouver, British Columbia, radio Wednesday.
“On the radio, we coined a new phrase for those who lined up so early for the movie release,” she said.
“We are calling them Twi-nuts.
“I even talked to them in line, and most of them wholeheartedly agreed that they are.”
For more information about the celebration, see www.portangelesdowntown.com.
__________
Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
