PORT TOWNSEND — This is a festival for the locals.
That doesn’t mean it isn’t all-inclusive. All are welcome, but this mid-August celebration of a neighborhood is primarily focused on the people who live and work there.
The 29th annual Uptown Arts & Crafts Fair will offer live music, entertainment, food, arts and crafts and children’s activities from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday on Tyler Street at Lawrence across from the Port Townsend Community Center in Uptown Port Townsend.
For public safety, Lawrence Street and Tyler Street are closed for the fair, as well as the Farmers’ Market location on Polk Street, according to a press release from the Port Townsend Main Street program, which is presenting the festival.
The centerpiece of the day’s festivities is what has been billed as the shortest — but most colorful — parade in the Pacific Northwest.
The Grandly Local Parade will begin at 2 p.m. after participants have lined up beginning at 1:30 p.m. at the East Jefferson Fire-Rescue station at 701 Harrison St.
No religious or political entries are to be allowed, according to the press release.
The Port Townsend Arts Guild will host arts and crafts by Northwest artists not usually seen at the weekly farmer’s market, according to the release.
Some of the juried work will include tie-dyed dresses and shirts, original fleece clothing, botanical paintings and prints, hand-embroidered felted slippers, fused glass art, pottery, leather belts and bags, cedar boxes, soaps, lampworked beads, silver jewelry, horse paintings and prints, original designed and sewn baby clothes, bird paintings, metal home and yard art, whimsical bird houses, handwoven rugs, stuffed animals, ethnic felted hats, purses and tribal-style jewelry.
The Arts Guild uses the money raised by the booth fees to fund college scholarships in the arts for Jefferson County students as well as other cultural events.
The Guild also gave $3,600 to Jefferson County Food Bank in 2018.
Free activities for children will include arts and crafts projects, painting and flower crowns for kids by Sweet Seed Flower Farm.
This year’s poster features original art by Faith Pray.
Here is the schedule:
• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Jefferson County Farmer’s Market.
• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Port Townsend Arts Guild Arts & Crafts Fair; Outdoor Beer Garden hosted by Uptown Pub; food vendors.
• 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Art activities for children of all ages.
• 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. — Stars of Tomorrow – Lukewarm Chili Peppers.
• 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Flower Crowns for children with Sweet Seed Flower Farm.
• 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. — Phina Pipia & Guests.
• 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. — Free yoga class on the Community Center lawn.
• 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — Chuck Easton and The Soul Syndicate.
• Noon to 2 p.m. — Lawn Games at the Carnegie Library, 1220 Lawrence St.
• 12:30 p.m. to 1:40 p.m. — Jack Dwyer Band.
• 1:40 p.m. to 1:55 p.m. — Key City Public Theatre Summer Season Sneak Peak.
• 2 p.m. to 2:25 p.m. — Uptown Grandly Local Parade and awards.
• 2:25 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. — Unexpected Brass Band.
• 2:45 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. — Embassy Arms fencing demonstration.
• 3:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. — Jonathan Doyle & Friends.
For more information, see www.ptmainstreet.org.
