PORT ANGELES — The Liars Contest, an annual party hosted by the nonprofit Story People of Clallam County, will bring 10 competitors before an audience in the Raymond Carver Room at the Port Angeles Library, 2210 S. Peabody St., this Saturday.
Storytelling will begin at 7 p.m. Admission is $10, or $8 for Story People members, with proceeds to go toward other storytelling events in and around Port Angeles and Sequim.
Colleen Squier, who won the 2016 Liars Contest with her tale about Chinese wontons, hopes to defend her title.
“But maybe I’m a one-lie wonder,” she quipped, adding that in any case, this competition is a hoot for everybody involved.
While Squier took first place last year, Port Angeles Fire Department Chief Ken Dubuc came in second with his account of an incident in Fiji in which a barracuda took his arm off.
“It has a happy ending that involves duct tape,” he said.
Dubuc will be back, along with 2016 third-place winner Tobey Anderson and a field of other liars.
No previous experience is necessary to partake in the Liars Contest, said organizer Ingrid Nixon. Those who want to participate as an alternate are asked to arrive by 6:30 p.m. and talk with her.
Lies must be seven minutes in length — with a one-minute grace period — and suitable for family audiences; no profanity or off-color content. And the tellers must recite, not read.
A panel of judges including Chris Wright, director of the Forest Storytelling Festival of Port Angeles; Perry Spring of the Quimper Story Guild; and retired Marine Corps Gen. Rich Hearney will choose the champions.
First place brings a cash prize of $100, second place $50 and third $25, plus trophies.
Contestgoers will have chances to buy raffle tickets for the Forest Storytelling Festival quilt and for a $1,000 Costco Wholesale gift card. These raffles raise money for the festival, which takes place at Peninsula College in Port Angeles on Oct. 20-22.
For more about the Liars Contest and other local storytelling events, see www.ClallamStoryPeople.org or email Nixon via Newsletter@ClallamStory People.org.
