Happy Labor Day weekend!
A special Smithsonian exhibit opens in Port Townsend, the Clallam County Historical Society throws open the doors on a huge garage sale in Port Angeles and the Green River Mountain Men re-enact an 1800s fur trappers gathering in Sequim.
Those events are among the many activities planned this weekend on the North Olympic Peninsula.
PORT ANGELES
Huge garage sale
PORT ANGELES — The Clallam County Historical Society’s annual garage sale opens to the general public today.
The sales at the old Lincoln School at Eighth and C streets will be from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. today and Saturday.
Next Friday, Sept. 10, will be half-price day and Saturday, Sept. 11, will be buck-a-bag day.
Among the items for sale are clothing, appliances, jewelry, children’s toys, gardening equipment and books.
The menswear and other merchandise that appeal to guys are in the front of building, so men don’t have to wade through the women’s clothing and accessories.
The sale is divided into many sections, including “craft heaven,” a kitchen department full of cookbooks and dishes and a high wall of books.
Among the highlights this year is a collection of humor books, art books, favorite novels and more from the estate of June Robinson, a historian and Sequim schools volunteer who died in May 2009 at the age of 83.
Proceeds from the garage sale go to the historical society, which hopes to restore the Lincoln School and turn it into a research library and museum.
SEQUIM
Fur trade re-enactment
SEQUIM — The Green River Mountain Men will hold their annual rendezvous at the Peninsula Longrifle’s location on Slab Camp Road south of Sequim from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
This re-enactment of the annual fur trappers’ gatherings in the early 1800s will feature historic-style campsites and period-dressed re-enactors with things to see and hands-on opportunities for the entire family.
Activities will include black-powder shoots, primitive archery, a Dutch oven cooking competition, scrimshaw, music, storytelling, children’s activities, traders’ row and much more.
Admission is free.
There is a $20 charge to shoot weapons, and only those 13 and older may shoot.
Directional signs will be placed along the way.
For more information, phone Eric Holmquist at 206-890-6847 or Michael Shurr at 253-884-6763 or e-mail threeshurrs@yahoo.com.
Thrift shop open
SEQUIM — The Sequim Dungeness Hospital Guild’s Thrift Shop, 204 W. Bell St., will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
All white-tagged items will be marked half-price.
Volunteers are needed to work in the shop.
For more information, phone 360-683-7044.
Gulls and shorebirds
SEQUIM — A class at the Dungeness River Audubon Center will teach identification and natural history of shorebirds and gulls to preregistered participants tonight and Saturday.
Tonight’s presentation will be from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the center at Railroad Bridge Park, 2151 Hendrickson Road, Sequim.
A field trip to Dungeness Bay is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
The cost of the class is $25 for members of the river center and $40 for nonmembers.
The class will focus on the new varieties of shorebirds and gulls that migrate through the area in late summer.
Preregistration is necessary. Phone the center at 360-681-4076 or e-mail rivercenter@olympus.net.
FORKS/WEST END
Market bake sale
FORKS — The Forks Open Aire Market will hold its last bake sale fundraiser of the season from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the weekly Saturday market.
The market is held in the parking lot of the Forks Timber Museum, 1421 S. Forks Ave.
All the items are home-baked by members of the market.
Proceeds will go toward the costs of running and maintaining the market.
For more information visit forksopenairemarket.com or e-mail contact@forksopenairemarket.com.
Bluegrass concert
FORKS — A concert of bluegrass music is planned at the Cafe Paix/A Work in Progress on Saturday.
The Crescent Blue band will perform from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the cafe at 71 N. Forks Ave.
There is no cover charge.
PORT TOWNSEND and JEFFERSON COUNTY
Smithsonian exhibit
PORT TOWNSEND — The Smithsonian exhibit “Journey Stories” will open at the Jefferson County Museum on Saturday.
Ruth Short, 95, will cut the ribbon at 11 a.m. at the museum at 540 Water St., Port Townsend.
The exhibit traces four centuries of American journeys.
Using a wide range of visuals, audio clips, music, maps and artifacts, “Journey Stories” brings to life the personal paths of immigrants, slaves, explorers, business tycoons and historical figures whose travels have led from the Mayflower to the Northwest.
“Journey Stories” will be on exhibit until Oct. 17.
It will include local components such as projects completed by students during the Jefferson County Historical Society summer history camp.
The exhibit is sponsored by Humanities Washington and locally supported by Puget Sound Energy Foundation.
For more information, phone 360-485-1003.
Land trust walk
PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson Land Trust docents will lead a nature walk in the Quimper Wildlife Corridor from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday.
Participants will meet at the north end of North Jacob Miller Road.
Jefferson Land Trust describes the one-mile walk as a “swift walk on uneven terrain.”
Walkers should wear weather-appropriate footwear and clothing.
The walk is free and open to the public.
For more information, phone 360-379-9501, ext. 103, or e-mail jlt@saveland.org.
Adventuress sail
PORT TOWNSEND — A sail to Protection Island National Wildlife Refuge on the 101-foot historic wooden schooner Adventuress will depart from the Port Townsend City Dock at 10 a.m. Saturday.
The sail, which will end at 3 p.m., is sponsored by the Port Townsend Marine Science Center.
“Experiencing a sail on the Adventuress is a lifetime memory,” said Anne Murphy, executive director of the science center.
“Add to that the opportunity to view the wildlife that inhabits the island SEmD like eagles, puffins, elephant seals and more SEmD and you’ve got a perfect day for the whole family,” she added.
Naturalists from the center, familiar with the island, its local bird population and marine mammals, will serve as on-board interpreters and provide commentary.
Cruises are $75 for members of the Port Townsend Marine Science Center, Burke Museum, Audubon or Washington Ornithological Society and $80 for nonmembers.
All proceeds for the sail will benefit the Port Townsend Marine Science Center’s educational programs.
Reservations are required and may be made by phone at 360-385-5582 or 800-566-3932 or by e-mailing cruises@ptmsc.org.
Benefit concert
PORT TOWNSEND — A benefit concert and silent auction for Port Townsend native Elyse Garling, 32, will be held at Sirens, 823 Water St., tonight.
Garling was diagnosed with breast cancer early this year.
The silent auction will begin at 6 p.m.
It will have art, jewelry, goods and services from local and national artists, vendors and businesses.
Singer-songwriter Matt Sircely will perform at 6 p.m.
Port Townsend based pop-rock group The Solvents will perform at 9:30 p.m.
The Solvents have been featured on Seattle public radio station KEXP FM and recently toured Europe.
The Party Club, composed of Ruby Fitch and Jarrod Paul Bramson, will spin music at 11 p.m.
For more information, phone 360-531-0514.
First Friday Storynight
PORT TOWNSEND — Jerry Chawes and Pam McWethy are the featured tellers at First Friday Storynight at Better Living Through Coffee, 100 Tyler St., from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. today.
Suggested donation is $5 to $10.
McWethy will tell the old Russian story of orphaned “Vassilisa the Brave” and her quest for Light from the witch Baba Yaga.
An open mic will be held during the event.
The only rule is that no reading be done. Everything must be shared in the ways of the oral tradition.
The event is presented by The Mythsinger Foundation and hosted by Brian Rohr.
For more information, phone 360-531-2535.
Commons open house
PORT TOWNSEND — Mountain View Commons, 1925 Blaine St., will hold an open house from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Monday.
Mountain View Commons houses the Jefferson County Family YMCA, the Port Townsend Police Department, the Port Townsend Food Bank, Radio Port Townsend, the American Red Cross and the YMCA’s Building Futures program, which pair adults with youths in mentor relationships.
Raspberry Jam
PORT HADLOCK — The Community United Methodist Church, 130 Church Lane, will hold its 11th annual Raspberry Jam from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday.
The Raspberry Jam includes a community singalong of familiar gospel songs with live accompaniment by Diane Johnson and Friends.
Anyone who brings an instrument is welcome to perform on stage.
Raspberry ice cream sundaes will be served.
The event is free but donations will be accepted and will go toward a scholarship for local youth at the Northwest School of Wooden Boat Building in Port Hadlock.