PORT ANGELES — Land — they’re not making it anymore. That’s why the North Olympic Land Trust works to preserve vital habitat, even that in private hands.
The trust’s biggest annual fundraiser, an event celebrated on land protected by the trust, is Sunday.
The 10th annual StreamFest will be from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Ennis Arbor Farm, 2238 E. Lindberg Road, across from the Peninsula Golf Club. Admission is free.
This is the first year the event will be held before Labor Day, and it has been pared down from two days to one.
Land Trust Executive Director Greg Good said that’s a good thing, since focusing on one day will be better for restaurants providing the StreamFest Smorgasbord as well as booth hosts, nature walk leaders, musicians and other volunteers.
“StreamFest also is a great opportunity for friends to get together and others to get acquainted, and a one-day event contributes to this good fellowship,” he said.
The fundraiser benefits the land trust, established in 1990, which has been instrumental in protecting 60 properties and more than 1,515 acres across the Peninsula. The nonprofit trust manages some properties and directly owns others. It depends on the generosity of the public.
Good said the event raises thousands of dollars for the land trust’s work.
Variety of activities
This year’s festival features live music, a silent auction, a StreamFest Smorgasboard buffet dinner and educational walks to Ennis Creek.
While admission to the festival is free, the dinner is $18 for the full meal, with small plate and vegetarian options going for $5 to $10.
Full dinner tickets are available at Port Book and News and Feiro Marine Life Center in Port Angeles and Pacific Mist Books and Sunny Farms in Sequim.
The menu is in keeping with the environmentally friendly theme of the event, with organic chicken, wild salmon and organic produce.
Save room for dessert, a blackberry cobbler made with berries from the farm, and donated by volunteer pickers.
Silent auction
The silent auction runs all day, with a chance to win high-end items such as flights to Seattle and nights at a luxury resort.
Items up for bid include a one-week stay at WorldMark Mariner Village Condos in Ocean Shores, four round-trip tickets to Seattle on Kenmore Air, one week in a condo at Sunriver, Ore., and original works of art.
Items that are not snapped up at the auction will be listed on the group’s Web site. Selected auction items can be viewed now on the site, www.nolt.org.
Returning this year is the Procession of the Species, a parade with costumes and masks made at the festival from recycled materials.
This activity started in Olympia 14 years ago and has spread around the world. The StreamFest procession will be facilitated by Meggan Uecker and Mattias Jarvegren.
It is open to all ages, and creators will parade their costumes at 5 p.m.
For those who want to get a head start on a costume, visit www.paprocession.blogspot.com.
While Ennis Creek may not be center stage at the festival, it is still an important player.
Educational walks
Visitors can take part in educational walks to the stream led by area experts.
The “Ennis Creek Open House” walks will be led by Jack Ganzhorn, Peninsula College fisheries program coordinator; James Karr, University of Washington professor emeritus of aquatic sciences and zoology and Bob Campbell, Feiro Marine Life Center manager.
Leading walks on the wooded side is Joe Murray, forester for Merrill and Ring’s Pysht Tree Farm.
There will also be a bird walk, fly tying and fishing demonstrations and booths with information from different environmental groups in the area.
A free shuttle bus will run from the Eagles Club on Front Street near Penn Street to the site all day.
Ennis Arbor Farm is under the stewardship of the land trust and is owned by Jim and Robbie Mantooth.
Mantooth is also the volunteer communications specialist for the land trust, and StreamFest.
For more information visit www.nolt.org.
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Features Editor Marcie Miller can be reached at 360-417-3550 or at marcie.miller@peninsuladailynews.com.
