PORT ANGELES — The all-woman-owned Olympic Cellars winery will again open its doors for an International Women’s Day party at 6 p.m. Thursday — to both men and women who like hot soup on a chilly night.
Since this year’s Women’s Day theme is “connecting girls, inspiring futures,” parents are encouraged to bring their daughters and sons — and children are invited to bring their folks, said winery co-owner Molly Rivard.
The winery is located in a century-old barn just east of Port Angeles at 255410 U.S. Highway 101.
“Invite somebody who’s new to the area: a neighbor or somebody new at work,” she added.
Rivard went from cooking for the Sequim School District’s student body to running the tasting room at Olympic Cellars a decade ago.
Since then, she has become a source of the homemade soup to be served Thursday evening.
There will be a variety including mushroom barley and a curry soup, Rivard predicted.
She and the rest of the winery crew also will lay out fresh breads and cookies; soft drinks and Olympic Cellars’ Working Girl wines will flow.
And this being a get-together for all community members, “good cheer and conversation are always on the menu,” Rivard added.
After dinner, First Step Family Support Center Executive Director Nita Lynn will give a short talk on the center’s many programs — ranging from parenting classes to home visits for new mothers — offered to parents and their kids across Clallam County.
Admission to Thursday’s gathering is a suggested donation of $10 for First Step Family Support Center.
A portion of proceeds from the wine sold at the event also will benefit First Step.
More details about the center, located at 325 E. Sixth St., are on its Facebook page and at 360-457-8355.
The International Women’s Day soup-and-community event has become a tradition at Olympic Cellars thanks to Womanfest, the 29-year-old organization that helps host it. Womanfest also holds a retreat at Lake Crescent every September around the time of the autumnal equinox.
For more information, phone Rivard — a Womanfest board member — at Olympic Cellars winery at 360-452-0160 or email her at molly@olympiccellars.com.
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Features Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-417-3550 or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
