PORT ANGELES — Three words came out of Gary Sorenson’s mouth Sunday afternoon as the fifth annual Jazz in the Olympics music festival was tooting its final horns:
“Out of sight!” said the festival’s director.
He added that crowds believed to be in the thousands easily exceeded last year’s jazz fest attendance.
With the Dixieland sounds of Brass Marmalade quartet performing behind him on stage at Vern Burton Community Center, Sorenson said this year’s event drew people from across the county, with a few coming from as far away as the Bahamas, northern Quebec and northern Mexico.
Many of those people were telling Sorenson that it was not just the best Jazz in the Olympics festival they’ve attended, but “this is the best festival I’ve ever been to,” he said.
Sorenson said attendance figures were not available Sunday, but if sales of tickets to the Red Lion Hotel venue Sunday night were any sign, the “Afterglow Events” were sold out with 113 attending the CrabHouse Restaurant buffet, dinner and jazz acts there.
“I think we have filled 500 — maybe 500-plus — motel rooms in Port Angeles,” said Sorenson.
“I think the restaurants are happy. I know the motels are happy.”