Christmas concerts, fundraisers and winter fun runs are among the weekend activities on the North Olympic Peninsula.
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 ANGELES
Ridge fundraiser
PORT ANGELES — “The Irate Birdwatcher,” a documentary about legendary Northwest outdoors writer Harvey Manning, will be screened at a fundraiser for the Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Club today.
The benefit will be at 7 p.m. at the Port Angeles Senior Center, 328 E. Seventh St.
Manning is known for the 100 Hikes series and Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills.
In the early 1960s, Manning, using the pen name “Irate Birdwatcher” became the voice of a dedicated band of hikers and climbers-turned-conservationists who spearheaded the grass-roots movement that brought us North Cascades National Park, as well as other designated wilderness areas, including the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.
He also wrote in favor of passing the Washington Wilderness Act of 1984.
Suggested donation is $5 at the door.
Toy drive
PORT ANGELES — Santa Claus and a band will fuel a toy drive at Trouble’s Brewing, a drive-through espresso stand, on Saturday.
The stand is at 110 Lilac Ave. on U.S. Highway 101 between Blue Flame BBQ.
Owner Amanda Rogers said she is collecting for the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program all month, but Saturday will be a special push for donations.
From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Santa will be available, and the Elf Holiday band will play live music.
Blue Flame BBQ and the Old Post Office Sweets & Treats will offer free samples of their wares.
The espresso stand is open daily from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m., Rogers said.
For more information, phone 360-452-4295.
Snowshoe walks
OLYMPIA NATIONAL PARK — The winter season’s ranger-led snowshoe walks at Hurricane Ridge will begin this weekend.
The treks will be offered at 2 p.m. beginning Saturday and will be available at that time Fridays through Sundays and Monday holidays through April 1.
The walks last about 90 minutes and go less than a mile.
People should register at the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center information desk 30 minutes before the scheduled walk.
Space is limited. A suggested $5 donation from each participant helps the park repair and replace snowshoes.
Group snowshoe walks are provided Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Monday holidays at 10:30 a.m. for groups with reservations, available by phoning 360-565-3136.
Diet classes set
PORT ANGELES — Certified diabetes educator and registered dietitian Amy Ward will hold separate, free classes today on eating skills for those with hypertension and diabetes.
The classes will be at Coldwell Banker Uptown Realty, 1115 E. Front St., with the hypertension class running from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and the diabetes course running from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
The first class will cover the basics of diet and hypertension.
It will attempt to help people with hypertension build skills in sensible eating. It will cover readily available foods — not fad diets or fancy foods.
The second class will cover the basics of diet and diabetes and attempt to build skills in sensible eating.
These classes are sponsored by the Volunteers in Medicine of the Olympics free clinic.
For more information, phone 360-457-4431 or email info@vimoclinic.org.
Book fairs readied
PORT ANGELES — A Books Are Fun book fair will be held today.
The book fair will be from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Fairester Room in the Olympic Medical Center basement, 939 Caroline St.
For more information, phone Laura Anderson at 360-417-7155.
Science Saturday
PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles Library, 2210 S. Peabody St., will offer the next in its series of monthly Saturday Science program for kids ages 7 to 12 at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Volunteers from the Dungeness River Audubon Center will discuss seasonal changes in the environment and citizen science opportunities.
This program is free of charge, and no registration is needed.
This program is sponsored by the Port Angeles Friends of the Library
For more information on this and other programs for youths, phone the Port Angeles Library at 360-417-8502, visit www.nols.org or email youth@nols.org.
Santa at Carnegie
PORT ANGELES — Santa Claus will greet young and old alike at The Museum at the Carnegie, 207 S. Lincoln St., from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Exhibits on the lower level of the museum feature Christmas decorations and toys from the past.
The museum’s Santa provides a bit of history himself as he carries on a family tradition that started back in the 1940s.
For more information, phone the society’s office at 360-452-2662 or email artifact@olypen.com.
Holiday boat parade
PORT ANGELES — A lighted boat parade is planned along the Port Angeles waterfront Saturday.
The boats will leave the Port Angeles Boat Haven at about 6 p.m. and travel east about as far as the area below Olympic Medical Center before turning around, said Steve DeBiddle, commodore of the Port Angeles Yacht Club.
A good place to observe the decorated boats will be City Pier, he said.
Boats will sail close to the pier during the parade.
A parade is also planned for Saturday, Dec. 17.
For more information, phone DeBiddle at 360-477-2406.
Christmas Angel
PORT ANGELES — The Crossing Church will host its annual Christmas Angel program from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
The program helps parents in need find low-cost Christmas gifts for their children.
The church is located at Deer Park Cinema, 96 Deer Park Lane.
For more information, phone The Crossing Church at 360-452-9926.
Baby item drive
PORT ANGELES — The third annual Cradle of Caring baby care item drive sponsored by Esther Chapter No. 19 Order of the Eastern Star will be held today and Saturday.
Donations of baby food, formula, cereal, disposable diapers and cash for the Port Angeles Food Bank will be collected from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.
Today’s collection will be at the Lincoln Street Safeway.
Saturday’s collection will be at the Safeway at 2709 E. U.S. Highway 101 and the Masonic Temple, 622 S. Lincoln St.
Hamilton bazaar
PORT ANGELES — A holiday bazaar will be held at Hamilton Elementary School this weekend.
The bazaar will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Christmas music
PORT ANGELES — The First Presbyterian Church of Port Angeles, 139 W. Eighth St., will present “A Little Christmas Music” at 3 p.m. Sunday.
Church members will provide piano duets, organ and piano duets, soloists, choir songs and a community singalong of Christmas songs.
The event is free and open to the public.
Home dedication
PORT ANGELES — Habitat for Humanity of Clallam County will dedicate the first house at its new Maloney Heights development in west Port Angeles at 3 p.m. Sunday.
The public is invited to welcome the Delta and Jarrett Shore family into their new home, said Maitland Peet, executive director.
The house was built largely with a grant from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, complemented by local volunteers logging 3,521 hours of construction to date, Peet said.
The Shore family has expended 475 hours of effort on the home as well.
For more information, phone 360-681-6780.
SEQUIM
Birding field trip
SEQUIM — Bob Boekelheide and Audrey Gift will lead a Backyard Birding Tune Up Field Trip on Saturday morning.
The free event will begin at the Dungeness River Audubon Center, 2151 W. Hendrickson Road, at 9 a.m. and end at the Dungeness Park Landing on Dungeness Bay at noon.
The mission will be to prepare for the Sequim-Dungeness Christmas Bird Count, which will be held Monday, Dec. 19.
Attendees will learn how to participate in the annual national census of bird populations.
New bird counters can contribute by counting species in their own garden and backyard feeding areas or, if an experienced birder, can count with other groups in assigned areas.
Book discussion
SEQUIM — Khaled Hosseini’s New York Times bes-tseller The Kite Runner will be discussed at the Sequim Library, 630 N. Sequim Ave., at 3 p.m. Saturday.
The Kite Runner tells the story of an unlikely friendship between Amir and Hassan, boys of different class, education and religion.
Their story traces across 40 years in Afghanistan’s evolution, from the last days of Kabul’s monarchy to the atrocities of the Taliban.
Multiple copies of the book are available at the Sequim Library and can be requested online through the library catalog at www.nols.org.
Preregistration for this program is not required, and drop-ins are always welcome.
For more information visit www.nols.org or phone branch manager Lauren Dahlgren at 360-683-1161 or Sequim@nols.org.
Toy drive slated
SEQUIM — Dungeness Kids Co., 990 E. Washington St., Suite E-103, will collect new, unwrapped toys for the Marine Corps Toys for Toys organization from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
Santa will be here to greet kids and take pictures.
Customers who buy a toy to donate during the event will be given 10 percent off their entire purchase.
Christmas Lane Fair
SEQUIM — Crafts and food will be the focus of the Christmas Lane Fair at Trinity United Methodist Church, 100 S. Blake Ave., from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
More than 30 local crafters will offer their creations.
The Holly Daze Cafe will serve chili, soup and pie, and there will be a bake table.
For more information, phone the church at 360-683-5367.
Computer how-to
SEQUIM — Two how-to presentations will be offered by the Sequim PC Users Group in the Sequim High School computer lab, Room E-3, 601 N. Sequim Ave., at 10 a.m. Saturday.
The first presentation will show how to use the “save as” command to change and save file names, locations and formats.
This will be followed by “How to Use Online Tutorials,” an overview of the many online sites available offering free, detailed, self-paced instruction on just about any computer-related topic.
The presentations will be followed by an open forum for questions on any computer-related topic.
A suggested donation of $5 is requested from visitors.
For more information, visit http://spcug.net or email spcug1@gmail.com.
Volunteers celebrated
SEQUIM — The Museum & Arts Center in the Sequim-Dungeness Valley will celebrate its volunteers with a holiday event at the historic Groveland Cottage, 4861 Sequim-Dungeness Way, at 5 p.m. Friday.
Volunteers are welcome to bring a guest and asked to bring a favorite food or dessert to share. RSVPs are not necessary.
For more information, phone Renee Mizar at 360-681-2257.
Christmas celebration
SEQUIM — Sequim Community Church, 1000 N. Fifth Ave., will hold three performances of its Christmas celebration this weekend.
The events feature 150 performers and will be held at 7 p.m. today and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets are $5 for individuals and $15 for a family.
For more information, phone 360-683-4194.
Senior citizen luncheon
SEQUIM — Sequim Sunrise Rotary will host its annual Senior Citizen Luncheon at the Sequim Boys & Girls Club, 400 W. Fir St., from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.
The Sequim City Band and the Sequim High School choir will perform at the event.
More than 100 senior citizens will sit down to a free Christmas dinner and receive a Christmas present and sing carols.
For more information, phone 360-460-6692.
Book-signing set
SEQUIM — Author and artist Yvonne Pepin-Wakefield will hold a book-signing for her new book, Suitcase Filled with Nails: Lessons Learned from Teaching Art in Kuwait, today.
The signing will be from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Pacific Mist Books, 121 W. Washington St.
Pepin-Wakefield had taught art in Sequim schools before she joined the staff of a woman’s college in Kuwait.
Stamp, coin show
SEQUIM — The Sequim Stamp and Coin Show is planned Saturday.
The show will be from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Masonic Hall, 700 S. Fifth Ave.
Stamp and coin dealers will buy and sell stamps, covers, coins and bullion.
Free appraisals are offered.
First Teacher
SEQUIM — The annual First Teacher Winter Celebration is today.
The free festival will be at 10 a.m. in the Sequim Community School cafeteria, 220 W. Alder St.
Children and parents can visit with Santa, hear carols and play games at the event.
PORT TOWNSEND/JEFFERSON COUNTY
Rain Deer Run set
PORT HADLOCK — Naval Magazine Indian Island is hosting a Rain Deer Run, a winter version of its summertime community fun run, on Saturday.
Beginning at 10 a.m., participants of all ages will run and walk their way on a 5-kilometer — 3.1-mile — course along the southern roads of Indian Island.
There is also a shorter one-mile course available, which is ideal for young children and participants with strollers or pets.
Rain Deer Run is open to the public.
Registration will be available the day of the run from 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
The entry fee is $22 with a T-shirt or $16 without a T-shirt.
For participants ages 16 and younger, the fee is $16 with a T-shirt and free without a T-shirt.
On-site registration is cash only.
Participants will be able to enter the main gate at 9 a.m.
Picture identification is required for entry, and cameras will not be allowed on base.
Anyone registering the day of the run should be at the main gate at 8:30 a.m.
Prizes will be awarded to the winners of each men’s and women’s age divisions.
For more information, phone Aubrey Reed at 360-396-5227.
Meade in town
PORT TOWNSEND — Author and storyteller Michael Meade will hold events in Port Townsend today and Saturday.
Both events will be at the Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 2333 San Juan Ave.
Meade will offer an evening presentation of stories and poems “The Roots of Wisdom, The Flowering of Knowledge” at 7 p.m. today.
Admission is $12 for the evening presentation.
On Saturday, Meade will present an intensive workshop on the “The Second Adventure of Life” from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Registration is $85 for the workshop.
Tickets for the evening of poetry and stories and registration for the workshop is available at www.mosaicvoices.org or by phoning 206-935-3665.
Ski bus sign-ups
PORT TOWNSEND — Kiwanis of Port Townsend’s annual Snow Sports ski bus will hold sign-ups for the 2012 winter ski season at the Port Townsend Recreation Center, 620 Tyler St., from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday.
Kiwanis will initially be taking the first 75 to sign up, and an additional bus will be taken if there are 95 or more participants.
The ski bus is open to all ages. Those in sixth grade or below must be accompanied by a paid adult or guardian on all trips.
The bus will visit Stevens Pass on six consecutive Saturdays beginning Jan. 7.
Sign-up forms must be picked up, filled out and signed by student and parent and brought to the Rec Center on sign-up day.
Forms can be picked up at high school and middle school offices or the front desk at Evergreen Fitness, 22 Tahlequah Road, 360-385-3036.
Cost for the bus is $125 and is due at the time of registration.
For more information, phone program director Michelle West at 360-302-1132 or email evergreenfitness@qwestoffice.net.
Arts, crafts fair
CHIMACUM — The 25th annual Chimacum Arts and Crafts Fair will offer handmade holiday gifts and other goods Saturday and Sunday.
The fair will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at the Chimacum High School campus, 91 West Valley Road.
Admission is $3 at the door.
Club walk slated
PORT TOWNSEND — The Olympic Peninsula Explorers will hold a Fort Worden State Park/Cappy’s Trails club walk Saturday.
Attendees wishing to walk the 6.21-mile route will walk Cappy’s Trails through residential Port Townsend as well as Fort Worden State Park.
Walkers on the 3.1-mile route will stay within Fort Worden State Park.
Sign-ins for the walk will begin at 9:15 a.m. at Subway, 1300 Water St., with walkers driving to North Beach County Park at 9:30 a.m.
A carpool will leave from the Sequim QFC parking lot at 8:15 a.m.
For more information, phone Frances Johnson at 360-385-5861.
Family fiddle show
PORT TOWNSEND — The Wild Canadians will perform “swingin’, upbeat, backwoods family-fiddlin’” at the Quimper Grange, 1219 Corona St., today.
The fiddle concert and contra dance will run from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Tickets are $10 at the door with family discounts available.
Spiritual folk event
PORT TOWNSEND — “Could It Be — Heaven on Earth,” an event featuring original spiritual folks songs, fiddle tunes and village dances, will be held Saturday.
The event will be from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at the Rosewind Common House, 3131 Haines St.
Admission is by donation.
Harvest celebration
PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson County Farm to School Coalition will host a winter harvest celebration and potluck dinner at the Port Townsend Masonic Hall, 1338 Jefferson St., at 3 p.m. Sunday.
The event will include live music, a wheat-grinding contest, prizes for the most creative dishes and activities for children.
For more information, visit www.jcfarm2school.org.
Banff films screened
PORT TOWNSEND — The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour will be screened at the Uptown Theatre, 1120 Lawrence St., at 7:30 p.m.
This year’s film tour features a collection of the most inspiring action, environmental and adventure films from the annual Banff Mountain Film Festival.
The winning film “Cold” follows alpinist and photographer Cory Richards as he climbs the Gasherbrum II, the 13th-highest mountain peak in the world, in the dead of winter and records his harrowing descent of the mountain.
Tickets are $15 at the door or at www.brownpapertickets.com.
Second Sunday salsa
PORT TOWNSEND — Second Sunday salsa night will return to The Upstage bistro, 923 Washington St., this weekend.
For a $5 admission fee Sunday, Joe Thompson and Lynette Holloway will teach samba from 5:30 p.m. until 6:15 p.m. A beginning salsa lesson is planned from 6:15 p.m. until 7 p.m., and dancing to DJ’d music will continue until 9 p.m.
Dancers of all levels are welcome, and no partner is necessary to join in salsa night.
For details, phone The Upstage at 360-385-2216 or coordinator Hiroko Dennis at 360-385-6919.
FORKS/WEST END
Meeting, open house
CLALLAM BAY — Sunsets West Co-op in Clallam Bay will hold its annual member meeting followed by an open house to celebrate its new building Saturday.
The events will be held at the new location, 16795 state Highway 112, with the member meeting from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and the open house from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
A refurbished totem pole will be welcomed, live music will be performed, and a potluck will be held at the open house.
For more information, phone 360-963-2189.
Holiday sale set
FORKS — The Forks Open Aire Market Holiday Sale will be held at the Bank of America building, 481 S. Forks Ave., from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.
The event will include locally handcrafted items and other gifts and treasures.
There will be live music performances, a Giving Tree for the Forks Abuse program, donation boxes for nonperishable food items for the local food bank, a toy bank and coat drive, and local Soroptimist members will sell bricks from Forks High as a fundraiser.
Proceeds from space rental fees will be donated to the Forks Abuse program.
Bluegrass quartet
FORKS — Crescent Blue, a bluegrass quartet from Forks, will give a free concert at Peninsula College’s Forks Extension site, 71 S. Forks Ave., at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Band members include Ken Lambert, lead guitar and vocals; Barney Munger, banjo and vocals; Mary Meyer, guitar and vocals; and Dave Lenahan, bass.
The members, who play bluegrass and gospel, have been performing since the 1970s.
For more information, visit www.pencol.edu or www.facebook.com/PeninsulaCollege.
