Those who want to do more than eat well on Thanksgiving Day — and the following weekend — have a variety of activities to choose from on the North Olympic Peninsula.
FORKS
Trail run/walk
FORKS — A 5K run/walk is planned on the Elk Conservation Trail in Forks on Thursday.
The event will be hosted by Forks Community Hospital on the North Olympic Land Trust property at 2156-2290 Calawah Way.
Registration will begin at 8 a.m. The race will start at 9 a.m. and, organizers say, will take place rain or shine.
A donation of $10 is suggested but not required.
Proceeds will benefit United Way of Clallam County.
Awards or medals will be awarded to the first 100 finishers.
To RSVP, select “Going” on the event’s Facebook Page.
The Elk Creek Conservation Trail is a lollipop-shaped course, a heavy 5K (about 3.3 miles), a well-maintained wide trail, riverside edges and a one-sided handrailed log bridge.
No aid stations, Sanicans or garbage cans will be available.
Parking is limited.
PORT TOWNSEND, PORT ANGELES, SEQUIM
Music, shopping
PORT TOWNSEND — Carolers will be out in the streets Saturday during Main Street Small Business Saturday and Merchant Holiday Open House.
Wild Rose Chorale will wander the streets both uptown and downtown from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Many shops will stay open later than 7 p.m. and offer special treats.
Protection Island cruise
PORT TOWNSEND — A cruise to Protection Island National Wildlife Refuge will be offered Saturday.
The Port Townsend Marine Science Center will host the cruise leaving from the dock at the end of Water Street at 1 p.m. and returning at 4 p.m.
Tickets are $80 per person or $60 for members of the marine science center, Audubon, Burke Museum or Washington Ornithological Society.
Participants will ride on one of Puget Sound Express’ heated, fully enclosed whale-watching boats with 360-degree windows and wrap-around observation decks.
Naturalist Roger Risley will be aboard to assist in wildlife spotting and interpretation, accompanied by Port Townsend Marine Science Center hosts.
In addition to experiencing and learning about the local marine life, participants have also witnessed a variety of birds while taking the cruise, including loon, grebe, cormorant, merganser, duck, scoter, phalarope, tern and puffin.
For more information on the cruise or to reserve a spot, visit http://tinyurl.com/PDN-protectionislandcruise or phone 360-385-5288.
Downtown Port Angeles
PORT ANGELES — Santa is coming to town.
The Hometown Holiday Main Show will begin at 3:30 p.m. Saturday on Laurel and First streets with singer Amanda Bacon performing.
Santa will arrive and the community tree will be lit at 5 p.m.
The holiday tree-lighting will cap an afternoon of downtown events offered by merchants, and the Port Angeles Downtown Association will offer several activities, working with the Festival of Trees Committee.
After Family Days, when members of the public can view decorated trees at the Vern Burton Community Center, 308 E. Fourth St., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday,the downtown association will present the third annual Snowball Drop.
During the drop, pingpong balls labeled with merchant prizes and discounts from all over Port Angeles will fall from a rooftop for a scramble.
It will be held in the sunken parking lot on Front Street between Laurel and Oak next door to Station 51 with the assistance of Port Angeles Fire Department volunteers.
On Friday — following the Festival of Trees Gala at the Vern Burton Community Center, 308 E. Fourth St., which begins at 5:30 p.m. — participants and the public at large can enjoy “after-hours” music at several downtown restaurants and bars starting at 9:30 p.m.
They will include Bada Northwest, Barhop Brewing, Bar N9NE, Bella Italia, H20 Restaurant, The Metta Room, Next Door Gastropub, Strait Slice Pizza, Station 51 and Wine on the Waterfront.
Also Friday, several merchants will offer Black Friday specials. Specials also are offered on the following day, known as Small Business Saturday.
Downtown Sequim
SEQUIM — Santa will arrive for a holiday tree-lighting at Centennial Place — at the corner of Sequim Avenue and Washington Street — on Saturday, the same day that Sequim will celebrate Small Business Saturday for shoppers.
The Sequim City Band will perform at 1:30 p.m. Santa will arrive at 2 p.m.
The community holiday tree will be lit at 4:30 p.m. followed by a procession of lit tractors organized by the Sequim Museum.
The Sequim Chamber of Commerce also is hosting a contest to guess the number of lights. The closest guess will win $100.
OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK
Thanksgiving buffets
OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — Thanksgiving buffets are scheduled at Lake Crescent and Quinault lodges.
The Lake Crescent Lodge meal will be from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the lodge off U.S. Highway 101 west of Port Angeles.
It will cost $39 for adults, $33 for seniors, $18 for children ages 4 to 12. It will be free to children younger than 4.
Advance reservations are required by calling 360-928-3211.
The Lake Quinault Lodge meal will be from noon to 7 p.m. at the lodge at 345 S. Shore Road in Quinault.
It will cost $39 for adults, $33 for seniors and $16 for children 12 and younger.
Special activities for children begin at 10 a.m. A game of pumpkin bocce will be played on the lawn at 3 p.m.
Reservations can be made by calling 360-288-2990
Lights at Lake Crescent
OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — On Saturday, the lodge at Lake Crescent will come ablaze with holiday lights.
The free festivities will go on from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with carolers, a visit from Santa and holiday drinks.
Visitors are urged to bring toys or food donations to support Toys for Tots or the Port Angeles Food Bank.
For more information, call the lodge at 360-928-3211.
