FORKS — A celebration of the history of Forks and the West End — Hickory Shirt Heritage Days — continues through Sunday.
The five-day festival began early Wednesday with the presentation of the West End Business and Professional Association’s Pioneer Logger Award to Homer Kesterson, 93.
During the annual festival, residents are urged to wear hickory shirts to symbolize Forks’ logging roots. Hickory shirts are thick, cotton blue-gray- and white-striped shirts designed to stand up to hard work and traditionally worn by loggers.
Today, the 85th annual Harvest Dinner is planned from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 240 Spartan Ave. The menu is roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, sweet potatoes, baked salmon, a variety of salads, apple and pumpkin pie, plus a variety of drinks.
The cost is $10 for adults, $6 for seniors older than 62 and children younger than 12. A family pass is $35.
The Forks Timber Museum at 1421 S. Forks Ave., will offer free admission from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Spinning and knitting demonstrations are planned.
On Saturday will be the 22nd annual Fish and Brew at the Rainforest Arts Center at 35 N. Forks Ave. Admission is a suggested $5 donation.
People are encouraged to bring their own brews to enter or to sample smoked fish, brews, homemade root beer, apple cider and other treats.
Musical entertainment will be by Loose Gravel.
Loose Gravel also will perform later that night for the Choker Setters Ball, which is sponsored by Rainforest Council for the Arts at the Rainforest Arts Center.
Admission is a suggested donation $6, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. It will be open to all ages, with old-timey clothes encouraged.
Dance instruction will precede the dance.
The Little Loggers Contest, sponsored by the Forks Lions Club, will be a highlight on Sunday at Forks Outfitters, 950 S. Forks Ave.
Here is the weekend’s schedule.
Today
Appreciation Day for United States Coast Guard Station Quillayute River.
• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m — Free admission to the Forks Timber Museum, 1421 S. Forks Ave.
• 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. — Friends of Forks Library book sale, with books costing $2 per bag and continuation of Art Case display at the library at 171 S. Forks Ave.
• Noon to 4 p.m. — the Forever Twilight in Forks collection is open at the Rainforest Arts Center.
• 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. — 85th annual Harvest Dinner, First Congregational Church, 240 Spartan Ave.
• 7 p.m. — Forks High School Spartans vs. Olympic High School of Bremerton. With help from the Elks Lodge, the cheerleaders will offer free T-shirts to increase drug awareness in the community.
• 7 p.m. to 11:45 p.m. — Rain of Terror Haunted House at Quillayute Airport.
Saturday
• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Free admission to the Forks Timber Museum, 1421 S. Forks Ave.
• 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. — Fish and Brew from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Rainforest Arts Center. Admission is a suggested $5 donation.
• 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Senior parents rummage sale at the big shop next to Tillicum Park.
• 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Bogachiel Garden Club fall plant sale at 631 Fifth Ave.
• 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. — Dance instruction at the Rainforest Arts Center in preparation for the Choker Setter’s Ball.
• 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. — Choker Setter’s Ball, Rainforest Arts Center. Admission suggested $6 donation, but all are welcome regardless of ability to pay.
• 7 p.m. to 11:45 p.m. — Rain of Terror Haunted House at Quillayute Airport.
Sunday
• 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Senior Parents Rummage Sale at the big shop next to Tillicum Park
• 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Free admission to the Forks Timber Museum, 1421 S. Forks Ave.
• Noon to 3 p.m. — Sawyer log cutting demonstration at Forks Timber Museum.
• Noon to 4 p.m. — Art show in the lobby of the Rainforest Arts Center, family art class and card painting for all ages.
• 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. — Phillip Ward will lead a basket-weaving class. All materials will be provided. Participants will weave small cedar bark baskets. Pre-register by calling 360-640-0359. The fee is $25.
• 3 p.m. — Little Logger Contest at Forks Outfitters, 950 S. Forks Ave., which will also host a pumpkin display. Prizes to be awarded.
Hickory Shirt-Heritage Days is sponsored by the West End Business and Professional Association with help from many other entities.
For more information, see the Forks Chamber of Commerce website at forkswa.com.
