The holiday season is in full swing on the North Olympic Peninsula.
Bazaars, concerts and plays are among the seasonal treats offered this weekend.
For more about arts and entertainment events, see Peninsula Spotlight, the Peninsula Daily News’ weekly entertainment guide, appearing in this edition.
Other weekend events are in the “Things to Do” calendar, available online at www.peninsuladailynews.com.
Here are some of this weekend’s other highlights:
PORT TOWNSEND/JEFFERSON COUNTY
Festival of Lights
PORT TOWNSEND — The second annual Festival of Lights will offer a cookie bazaar, vendors, raffle prizes and a silent auction among other attractions today and Saturday.
More than 2,000 homemade cookies will be sold by the dozen at the festival from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and Saturday at the Masonic Lodge at Jefferson and Van Buren streets.
Admission is free.
The raffle will cost $5 per ticket or six tickets for $25.
Santa and photographer JJ Jenkins will be on hand to take photos with Santa.
A supervised activity room will be available for younger children.
St. Nicholas play
PORT TOWNSEND — A “Golden Christmas Gift from St. Nicholas to the People of Port Townsend” will be presented at St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox Christian Church tonight.
The story and puppet show will be from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the church at 1407 30th St.
The Fourth Century Players will perform the tale of the generosity and saintliness of St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra and Lycea.
Music, refreshments, a craft workshop and a very special visitor are also planned.
The event is free and open to the public.
For more information, phone 360-385-0585 or visit www.orthodoxporttownsend.com.
Victorian tours
PORT TOWNSEND — A holiday tour of three Victorian homes will be held from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.
Light refreshments will be offered.
Tickets are $25 and available at www.victoriansociety-northwest.org.
Christmas fair set
PORT TOWNSEND — Life Care Center of Port Townsend will hold its eighth annual Christmas Fair and Silent Auction from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Those who participate can bid on handmade wreaths that have been entered into a wreath-making contest and judged by a panel of local artists.
A “Gift Wreath” area will include items that will not be entered in the wreath contest but will be offered for bid during the silent auction.
The grand prize for individuals, offered by the Resort at Port Ludlow, is a deluxe hotel room for two and breakfast for two at the Fireside Restaurant, plus 18 holes of golf, including a cart for two, at Port Ludlow Golf Course, a $400 value.
For more information, phone Sandi Bird at 360-643-3555.
St. Nicholas Faire
PORT TOWNSEND — St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 1020 Jefferson St., will hold its fourth annual St. Nicholas Faire from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday.
New this year will be the sale of A Taste of St. Paul’s, a cookbook of parishioners’ favorite recipes, commemorating the 150 years of the church building.
The fair will include an art show and sale featuring works created by members and gift, book and sweet shops.
Raffle items will include an afghan of rainbow-colored hexagons and an 18-inch handmade teddy bear.
Proceeds from the event will go toward St. Paul’s Outreach Program and other church needs.
Occupy Port Townsend
PORT TOWNSEND — The first Occupy Port Townsend general assembly is planned Saturday.
The assembly, which is open to the public, will be from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Quimper Unitarian Universalist Church on San Juan Avenue at 22nd Street in Port Townsend.
For more information about Occupy Port Townsend, visit www.occupyporttownsend.org, email occupyporttownsend@gmail.com or search for its Facebook page.
Nature walk set
PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson Land Trust will offer a winter walk in Cappy’s Trails from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday.
Participants will meet at Hendricks and 49th streets in Port Townsend.
Cappy’s Trails is a part of the Quimper Wildlife Corridor.
The walk is categorized as an “easy walk on uneven terrain.”
No restrooms will be available.
The walk is free and open to the public.
For more information, phone 360-379-9501.
Meditation classes
PORT TOWNSEND — Drimed Dorje, a Tibetan Buddhist meditation teacher, will offer classes at Phoenix Rising beginning Saturday.
Classes will be from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the bookstore at 696 Water St., Port Townsend.
A $10 donation is suggested, but no one will be turned away for inability to pay.
For more information, email drimed.dorje@gmail.com or phone 360-379-2804.
Holiday open house
QUILCENE — Center Valley Animal Rescue will hold its annual holiday Open House from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
The event will be at the Center Valley Ranch at 11900 Center Road, Quilcene.
Richard Jesse Watson, a Port Townsend writer and artist of children’s books, will be available to sign his books, which will be on sale.
Open house attendees also may tour the ranch to see its 140-plus animals, chat with the volunteer staff and have the chance to win such raffle prizes as gift baskets, a wine-tasting tour at the Hoodsport Winery, dinners for two at local restaurants, spa days and more.
Attendees also can arrange free pet adoptions
The open house is one of two that Center Valley hosts each year to raise money to care for the animals at the ranch.
There is no admission fee, but all may buy raffle tickets for the gifts of their choice, donate funds or buy holiday gifts for their relatives and friends with pets.
There will be snacks and musical entertainment throughout the afternoon.
For more information, visit www.centervalleyanimalrescue.org or email info@centervalleyanimalrescue.org.
‘Winter Impressions’
PORT LUDLOW — The artists of Port Ludlow are hosting an opening reception tonight for their “Winter Impressions” group show at Columbia Bank, 9500 Oak Bay Road.
The public party will start at 4 p.m. inside the bank, then move to the adjacent art gallery at 5 p.m.
Signing, reading set
PORT TOWNSEND — Author and artist Yvonne Pepin-Wakefield will hold book-signing and reading events from her new book Suitcase Filled with Nails: Lessons Learned From Teaching Art in Kuwait on Saturday and Sunday.
The signing event will be held at Wynwoods Gallery and Bead Studio, 940 Water St., during Port Townsend’s monthly first Saturday Gallery Walk from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday.
The reading event will be held at Max Grover Gallery, 630 Water St., from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
SEQUIM
Breakfast with Santa
SEQUIM — Breakfast with Santa will be offered at the Sequim High School cafeteria Saturday.
The 20th annual breakfast will be from 8 a.m. to noon in the cafeteria at 601 N. Sequim Ave.
Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for children younger than 12.
Proceeds benefit Citizens for Sequim Schools
The buffet breakfast will include ham, eggs, potatoes, fruit salad and cinnamon rolls.
Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive at 8:30 a.m., and children will receive free photos with Santa.
Wreaths and pointsettias will be available for purchase.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a nonperishable food donation for the Sequim Food Bank.
Roma lecture set
SEQUIM — Missionaries Doug and Liz Searles will discuss the repression of the Roma people in Europe as well as their missionary efforts in Poland on Saturday.
The talk will be at Peninsula United Church of Christ, a home church community located at the home of the Rev. Ed and Carolyn Evans, 34 Olstead Road.
A potluck will be held at 12:30 p.m., with the talk starting at 1 p.m.
Attendees are asked to bring a small potluck dish to share.
For directions and more information, visit www.peninsulaucc.com.
Holiday Book Fair
SEQUIM — The Museum & Arts Center in the Sequim-Dungeness Valley will celebrate the written word Saturday by hosting its first-ever Local Authors Holiday Book Fair.
The fair will be held at the MAC Exhibit Center, 175 W. Cedar St., from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Seven authors are scheduled to sign copies of their work.
They are Glynda Peterson Schaad, Ross Hamilton, Irene Wyman, Dave Woodcock, Terry Buchanan, Iris Edey and Doug McInnes.
Book fair attendees can also be among the first to pre-order forthcoming books by Wyman and Peterson Schaad.
Those who visit the MAC Exhibit Center on Saturday can also enter a free raffle to win the Sequim Merchants Group’s annual holiday gift basket, which contains merchandise and gift certificates valued at more than $1,600.
Books into ornaments
SEQUIM — The Sequim Library, 630 N. Sequim Ave., will host the crafting workshop “Old Books into Ornaments” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.
Attendees will learn to repurpose discarded library books into holiday ornaments, gift-wrapping paper and bows.
Participants will be taught to make an e-reader cover from a used hardback book binding.
Materials will be provided by the Friends of Sequim Library.
The event is suitable for people 11 and older.
Pre-registration for this program is encouraged to ensure enough supplies for all attendees.
For more information about this and other upcoming library programs, visit www.nols.org and click on “Events” or contact the library at Sequim@nols.org or 360-683-1161.
Christmas fair set
SEQUIM — Sequim Prairie Grange, 290 Macleay Road, will hold its 33rd Handmade Christmas Fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
More than 30 vendors will display their handmade crafts and gifts.
Grange members will prepare a lunch and bake table with homemade desserts made by grange members.
For more information, phone 360-683-7021.
Tea and bake sale
SEQUIM — The annual Christmas Tea and Bake Sale is planned at the Dungeness Schoolhouse on Saturday and Sunday.
The sale will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days at the schoolhouse at 2781 Towne Road.
Homemade sweets and baked goods will be for sale.
For more information, visit www.macsequim.org or phone the MAC Exhibit Center at 360-683-8110.
Christmas potluck
SEQUIM — The Clallam County Genealogical Society will host a Christmas potluck at the Pioneer Park Clubhouse, 387 E. Washington Ave., from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.
Attendees should bring their favorite dish to share.
The program will be “Bring and Brag,” with attendees bringing a family heirloom to share its story.
The event is open to the public.
For more information, phone 360-417-5000.
Donations collected
SEQUIM — The Sequim High School wrestling team will collect nonperishable food items for the Sequim Food Bank at the Sequim Safeway, 680 W. Washington St., from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Team members, coaches and parents will be on hand attempting to collect more than 2,171 pounds of food — the combined weight of a full varsity wrestling roster.
All donations will go directly to the Sequim Food Bank.
For more information, phone Christine Paulsen at 360-452-8262.
Wreath-making
SEQUIM SEmD McComb Gardens’ greenhouse will be open for winter wreath making today and Saturday.
The nursery at 751 McComb Road in Sequim is opening its greenhouse for the craft work Wednesdays through Saturdays through Dec. 24.
Each customer will receive individual hands-on instruction.
Customers are asked to bring greens and nongreens from their gardens; a wreath uses about one garbage can full of greens.
There is a $10 fee per wreath.
It usually takes two hours to create a wreath.
Reservations are required; phone 360-681-2827.
Photos with Santa
SEQUIM — Sequim Valley Funeral Chapel, 108 W. Alder St., will hold a “Photos with Santa” Toys for Tots fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
Bring an unwrapped toy or cash donation for Toys for Tots and receive a photo with Santa and enjoy cookie decorating and refreshments.
Pet food demonstration
SEQUIM — Best Friend Nutrition, 680 W. Washington St., will host a pet food demonstration for the Natures Variety brand from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday.
For more information, phone 360-681-8458.
PORT ANGELES
Dancing for toys
PORT ANGELES — The ninth annual Dancers Dancing for Toys toy drive will be held at Peninsula College’s Little Theater, 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd., at 7 p.m. today.
Talia of San Diego’s Oriental Jewels Belly Dance Co. will headline the show.
Talia will be joined by Shula Azhar, a Middle-Eastern dance group from Port Angeles, and the Wahine Ilikea Dancers, the largest hula dance group on the Peninsula.
Admission is a donation of a new, unwrapped toy.
Toys will be donated to the Port Angeles Salvation Army.
Madrigal dinner
PORT ANGELES — The fifth annual Madrigal Dinners will be tonight and Saturday.
Reservations were due Thursday for the dinners held at the Port Angeles High School cafeteria, 304 E. Park Ave., at 7 p.m. today and Saturday.
Cost is $25 per person for the five-course dinner.
For ticket information, phone Jolene Dalton Gailey at 360-565-1535 or email jgailey@portangelesschools.org, or phone Debi Davies at 360-565-1962 or Denise Dahll at 360-565-1964.
Knitting for the needy
PORT ANGELES — “Warming Hearts and Heads,” a knit and crochet marathon benefit, will be held at the Port Angeles Senior Center on Sunday.
The marathon will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the center at 328 E. Seventh St.
North Olympic AmeriCorps members, the senior center and the community are contributing to the marathon, providing hats and scarves for winter months to children and adults in need.
Donations will be distributed to Port Angeles elementary schools, Port Angeles Head Start and Serenity House.
Community members attending the event should bring the necessary materials for their project (e.g., yarn and knit/crochet needles).
Some yarn may be available for those who are unable to provide their own.
Donation boxes will be located at the senior center for a week following the event.
The event is free and open to the public.
Refreshments will be provided.
Tree-planting
PORT ANGELES — The North Olympic Salmon Coalition will host tree-planting along Morse Creek on Saturday.
Trees will be planted from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
Each volunteer should bring warm clothes, water, lunch and a shovel.
To RSVP and for directions, email Jentringer@nosc.org or phone 360-379-8051.
Coffee with Myers
PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles City Manager Kent Myers will hold a coffee hour at Cafe Garden Restaurant, 1506 E. First St., from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. today.
The public is welcome to come and meet Myers and offer comments or ask questions in an informal, relaxed environment.
Sunday breakfast
PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles Masonic Lodge No. 69 will hold an all-you-can eat breakfast at the Masonic Temple, 622 S. Lincoln St., from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday.
The menu includes scrambled eggs, sausage patties, hashbrowns, french toast and milk, orange juice and coffee.
Suggested donation is $8 for adults, $5 for seniors 65 and older, and free for children 10 and younger.
Proceeds will benefit the Masons’ charity and scholarship funds.
Stop the Checkpoints
PORT ANGELES — The third forum in a three part series sponsored by Stop the Checkpoints will be held at the Elwha Klallam Heritage Center, 401 E. First St., at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Guest speaker Val Carlson, a veteran civil liberties attorney from Seattle, will discuss militarization of law enforcement and talk about the importance of defending civil liberties and First Amendment rights during times of protest.
A graduate of the University of Washington Law School, Carlson has worked for more than 30 years on sex, race, political ideology and First Amendment rights cases.
The vice president of the Seattle Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, in 2008, Carlson was presented with a Champions of Justice Award by the Washington State Alliance for Equal Justice for her work with the King County Bar Association’s Community Legal Services program.
The meeting will conclude with a question-and-discussion period and brainstorming on actions to be taken.
The public is invited to participate.
Ridge shuttle
PORT ANGELES — All Points Charters & Tours is offering shuttle service to Hurricane Ridge Wednesdays through Sundays through April 1.
Shuttles will depart from the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center, 121 E. Railroad Ave., and the Vern Burton Community Center, 308 E. Fourth Ave., at 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Rates are $20 per person round trip, with discounted family and season passes.
Reservations are recommended.
For more information, phone 360-460-7131.
Service is subject to change depending on weather and road closures.
Teddy Bear Suite
PORT ANGELES — Park View Villas, 1430 Park View Lane, will host a Teddy Bear Suite designed by Trisa Chomica from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday.
Santa Claus will also be on hand at the event.
Photos with Santa will be available in exchange for a donation to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula.
Holiday open house
PORT ANGELES — Jim’s Pharmacy, 424 E. Second St., will hold a “Meet and Greet on 2nd Street” holiday open house from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.
An open chocolate bar will give guests a chance to taste before they buy from chocolate selections from Germany, England and the U.S.
At 12:30 p.m., Vocal Unlimited will sing carols for guests, and photographer David Woodcock will sign his book From the Air: Olympic Peninsula.
The entire gift department and gourmet food selections will be on sale at 20 percent off.
WEST END
Joyce festival set
JOYCE — A Nativity scene, archery contest and a decorated tree auction are planned at the Joyce Christmas Festival on Saturday.
The festival will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Joyce Bible Church, 50470 state Highway 112.
Auctions — including one of decorated Christmas trees — music, food and an archery competition for all ages are among the events planned.
Free coffee, tea, punch and cookies will be served.
Firefighter bake sale
JOYCE — Joyce Volunteer Firefighters Auxiliary will hold a bake sale at the Joyce General Store from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
A variety of pies, holiday breads and other sweets will be available.
Proceeds will go toward the volunteer program.
For more information, phone Donna Buck at 360-928-2177.
Knitting classes
FORKS — Knitting enthusiast Jessica Mishler will teach knitting classes at the Forks Library on Saturday.
The free class will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the library at 171 S. Forks Ave.
It will be repeated at the same time Saturday, Dec. 10.
Participants may choose to knit scarves or fingerless mitts.
For a list of recommended supplies and more information, email Mishler at 12knit@gmail.com.
For more information, phone 360-374-6402, email Forks@nols.org or visit www.nols.org.
Breakfast in Joyce
JOYCE — The Crescent Bay Lions Club, 118 Holly Hill Road, continues its Sunday breakfast program this weekend with a meal from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Meals will be held Sundays, except for holidays, into late spring.
The menu includes eggs made to order, hashbrown potatoes, sausage patties, ham, pancakes, french toast and biscuits and gravy.
Orange juice and coffee will also be served.
Cost is $6 for adults, $3.50 for children younger than 12.
For more information, phone 360-928-2056.