PORT ANGELES — The fifth Celebration of Shadows Fall Festival is set for Saturday.
The annual family-friendly festival will be at the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center, 1203 E. Lauridsen Blvd., Port Angeles.
The festival’s evening events will be free, although a $5 donation to support fine arts center programs is suggested.
“Celebration of Shadows Fall Festival has become a beloved event where people gather to settle into the changing seasons,” said Rachel Storck, the center’s associate director of operations. “The setting of Webster’s Woods creates a magical backdrop for exploration and creativity, especially as we focus on the interplay of light and shadow. Our deepest hope is that attendees will leave feeling inspired — by the autumnal surroundings, the artwork and the experience.”
Tracy Beals will lead pumpkin carving workshops at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. The 90-minute workshops cost $12 per person and include a pumpkin, tools, instruction and entry into the festival’s pumpkin carving contest.
Advanced registration for the workshops, at https://portangelesfineartscenter gallery-bloom.kindful.com/e/pumpkins2025, is encouraged as space is limited.
The pumpkin carving contest is open to the public. Entries are $5 per pumpkin, and pumpkins may be dropped off at the center between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday.
The entries will be available to view along the paths through Webster’s Woods from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
A panel of judges will select a winning pumpkin based on design, creativity and skill of execution. The winner will be announced at 7 p.m. from the stage in the meadow.
At 5 p.m., festival-goers will be able to view the neon-based exhibit “Lighten Up” in the Esther Webster Gallery or listen to spooky stories in the courtyard read by staff from the Port Angeles Main Library.
The festival also will include shadow puppet theater performances by HeHe House Productions at 5:45 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7:15 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Port Angeles Community Playhouse, 1235 E. Lauridsen Blvd.
Seating for the shadow puppets will be first-come, first-served.
Throughout the evening, activity stations will be open in the meadow with event partners Clallam Resilience Project, Olympic Nature Experience and the Port Angeles Community Playhouse.
There also will be food from Pacific Pantry and drinks from Angeles Brewing.
For more information, visit www.pafac.org.
