QUILCENE — A weekend of celebration and community is set for this weekend in Quilcene, as the Quilcene Fair and the Quilcene Oyster Races are on tap.
The Quilcene Fair opens at 9 a.m. Saturday near the Quilcene School located at 294715 U.S. Highway 101.
The Oyster Races start with a half marathon run/walk at 9 a.m. Sunday. The 5K and 10K races start at 10 a.m., beginning at 151 E. Columbia St.
All races are predicted to finish by 12:30 p.m., with participants getting served free oysters.
Saturday also will be the Quilcene Parade, which will begin at 11 a.m. Last year, the parade included logging trucks, vintage cars and floats from nearby community organizations.
Schedule of fair events
• 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.: car and motorcycle show, food concessions, vendors
• 11 a.m.: parade
• Noon: belt sander racing first heat
• Noon to 4 p.m.: music on the school grounds, games for kids, exhibit hall, school garden
• 1 p.m.: football game
• 3 p.m.: belt sander racing finals
• 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.: community street dance
The car and motorcycle show will have have prizes and a 50/50 raffle.
The Arts and Crafts Show is still seeking entries. Potential participants can bring their submissions to the school gym today from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and photographers who want to enter the Quilscenery photo contest can submit their photos by email to quilscenery@gmail.com.
The Big Bear Band will be performing for the community street dance across from the post office on Old Church Road. Camp chairs and coolers are recommended, but no alcohol is permitted at this free family event.
The Oyster Races on Sunday are expecting the largest turnout so far since it began in 2013. Organizers are expecting between 223 and 300 registered runners — 160 runners were registered as of Tuesday, which is higher than last year at this time — split between the three races: a half-marathon, a 5K and a 10K.
“A lot of runners register last minute,” said Brian Cullin, Oyster Races and Worthington Park communications director. “Bless their souls.”
The half-marathon and 10K races are USA Track and Field (USATF) certified, meaning the distance has been officially measured and the times people complete the race in can be nationally ranked against other runners across the nation.
Each runner gets a commemorative medal, a serving of grilled oysters and if they’re older than 21, locally brewed beer.
Runners have until 11:59 p.m. today to register for the races online. They can register in-person at the race booth at the Saturday fair. On the Sunday — the day of the race — runners have from 7:00-7:45 a.m. to register in person, with an additional $5 fee.
The half-marathon has a $60 race fee plus a $3.60 sign-up fee, the 10K has a $40 race fee plus a $3 sign-up fee, and the 5K has a $30 race fee plus a $2.50 sign-up fee.
Schedule of race events
Saturday
• 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.: early packet pickup at Oyster Race booth at Quilcene Fair.
Sunday
• 7 a.m.: registration and packet pickup begins (5K & 10K participants, please arrive at least 30 min. before the race)
• 8 a.m.: early start for half marathon walkers
• 9 a.m.: half marathon (runners) start
• 9:45 a.m (approximately): free kids’ sprint sponsored by Jefferson Healthcare (registration not required)
• 10 a.m.: start of 10K and 5K races for both runners and walkers
• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: open house at Worthington Mansion
• 11 a.m.: oysters served; craft beer garden opens (hosted by 101 Brewery)
Food vendors include Mo-Chilli BBQ, Lions Club burgers and hotdogs and Dosey Dux famous ice cream bars.
• 11:30 a.m. (approximately): awards ceremony
• Noon to 1:30 p.m.: free concert featuring The Jack Dwyer Band Band playing classic and original Americana dance music (sponsored by Loggers Landing)
Jefferson Healthcare sponsors the kids’ sprint, which any child up to early teens can participate in. All will receive participation medals, Cullin said.
Free tours of the Worthington Mansion, a renovated and restored Victorian mansion, will be open to all.
Worthington Park has been the site of nearly 40,000 volunteer hours building the park to be a special events center with an outdoor theater, restoring the mansion and operating the museum.
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Jefferson County reporter Zach Jablonski can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 5 or at zjablonski@peninsuladailynews.com.
