One of the largest holiday fairs on the North Olympic Peninsula returns this Saturday: The Chimacum Arts and Crafts Fair, a gathering of vendors from across the state plus local student and nonprofit groups.
They will get together at Chimacum High School, 91 West Valley Road in Chimacum, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., where admission will be $3 to browse among the artisan foods, candles, woodwork, leather goods, jewelry, apparel and other products.
This fair, the 34th annual, is condensed, with 80 vendors instead of the usual 120 and its capacity limited to 50 percent of normal, said coordinator Danny Milholland.
“We encourage folks to move through the fair quickly to make space for other shoppers,” he said, adding shoppers can see the whole vendor list beforehand at www.chimacumarts.com.
Along with the big fair, this weekend is rich in activities across Jefferson and Clallam counties. Here’s a sampling.
• The Wintertide Festival of Lights starts today and continues Saturday at the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center, 1203 E. Lauridsen Blvd.
Visitors can drop in starting at 11 a.m. to see the Makers Market, to be open until 8 p.m. The outdoor courtyard will be open with heaters, seating, live music by Abakis and food and drink through the evening.
On Saturday, the Makers Market will reopen from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Wintertide festival, open to those who bought tickets in advance, takes place from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m.
The event is sold out, but come Sunday, the fine arts center’s Webster’s Woods park opens again to the public.
The forest, open from dawn till dusk, is lighted with art installations by nine artists from around the Northwest.
For more about the center’s artwork and Makers Market, see www.pafac.org or phone 360-457- 3532.
• The Out Loud Story Slam returns to Studio Bob, 118 1/2 E. Front St., Port Angeles, tonight.
The theme is “fight, flight or freeze,” for storytellers who want to show up, put their names in the hat and possibly be chosen to take the stage.
Story slams are for true personal stories told in a few minutes; more about them is found on the Out Loud Story Slam Facebook page, while organizers Jeanne Sparks and Nessa Goldman can be reached at olypenstoryslam@gmail.com.
Admission for tellers and listeners is $10, while either proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test within the past 72 hours is required.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for this 7 p.m. show.
• “A Christmas Carol: A Live Radio Play” is on the main stage at Olympic Theatre Arts, 414 N. Sequim Ave., Sequim, tonight through Dec. 19.
This is Dickens’ classic tale adapted by Joe Landry and performed on a 1940s radio station set complete with live sound effects and an applause sign, tonight and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Tickets range from $12 to $18 while a pay-what-you-will show also is set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 16.
A photo ID and proof of vaccination or a negative PCR lab test less than 72 hours old are required for admittance and face masks are mandatory indoors.
For more, see www.olympictheatrearts.org or phone OTA at 360-683-7326.
• “An Artist’s Point of View” is the title of the new art show opening this weekend at Studio Bob.
The upstairs gallery at 118½ E. Front St., Port Angeles, will reveal works by Linda Tilley, Evan Miller, Catherine Mix, Roger Morris, Marian Morris and Jinx Bryant during two free receptions: from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and noon to 3 p.m. Sunday.
Proof of vaccination is necessary to enter the show and visit the bar.
• “The Guest” is the online drama opening tonight with Peninsula College acting and technology students bringing the story alive.
In the story by Maddie Nguyen, a group of college friends meet online to play Dungeons and Dragons during the pandemic, but one friend, Izzy, never shows up. Instead, a mysterious guest joins the room.
The performance is available for streaming today through Sunday on the college drama program’s YouTube channel, www.tinyurl.com/PDN-TheGuest.
Admission is free for students while others are invited to make a $10 donation.
For more information about supporting this effort, see www.pencol.edu/foundation/give or contact Paul Pitkin at 360-417-6400 or ppitkin@pencol.edu.
• “Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley” is a romantic comedy inspired by Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice,” with the spotlight on middle sister Mary.
She comes into her own in this show at the Port Angeles Community Playhouse, 1235 E. Lauridsen Blvd., this weekend through Dec. 19.
Curtain times are 7:30 p.m. tonight, Saturday and Tuesday plus 2 p.m. Sunday.
For tickets, visit www.pacommunityplayers.org.
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Jefferson County senior reporter Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-417-3509 or durbanidelapaz@peninsuladaily news.com.
