A calendar filled with events is sure to keep North Olympic Peninsula residents busy this weekend.
Art, historical homes, beach cleanups, wine stomping, open houses and other events are all on tap.
Here’s a synopsis of the events:
* The 20th annual West Coast Sea Kayak Symposium will take over Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend today through Sunday.
The Trade Association of Paddle Sports, which sponsors the event, claims it is the biggest conference of its kind.
More than 30 canoe, kayak and accessory manufacturers will spread out on a quarter-mile of sandy beach will products for visitors to try out.
Instructional classes, presentations, contests, food, music and dancing will also highlight the event.
Gates open at 8 a.m. today, Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets at the symposium are $120 for all three days, which allows access to all events and demonstrations.
One-day passes are $60; a beach pass, which only includes access to the demonstrations, is $20.
Tickets for children 13 and under are half-price on three-day and one-day passes.
* Olympic Cellars, 255410 U.S. Highway 101, Port Angeles, is the site of the Grape Stomping Harvest Party from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
The Polka Projekt band begins playing at 1 p.m. and contests will start at 2 p.m. They include a harvest costume contest and grape toss.
The highlight is the grape stomping which starts shortly after 2 p.m.
Tickets are $5 in advance at www.olympiccellars.com or at the winery and $7.50 at the door. Entrance for children under 12 is free, but participants must 16 years old to stomp grapes.
See a schedule of events on Page 4 of Peninsula Spotlight in today’s Peninsula Daily News.
* The Quilcene Fair runs Saturday and Sunday with events including a parade, classic car show, logging show, old time fiddlers and a bluegrass concert.
See a schedule of events on Page 2 of Peninsula Spotlight in today’s Peninsula Daily News.
* Olympic National Park, in celebration of National Public Lands Day, will join with other national parks and other federal land management agencies by waiving entrance fees on Saturday.
In addition, entrance to Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge near Sequim will be free, too.
* Historical homes in Port Townsend will be on display Saturday and Sunday in a fund-raising event for Jefferson General Hospital.
The 36th annual Homes Tour include nine historical homes and offers the chance to see how life was lived in the 19th century homes.
Hours for the guided tour are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets cost $13 for adults and $7 for children younger than 12. They can be purchased at the Port Townsend Visitor Information Center, 2437 E. Sims Way.
See a schedule of events on Page 3 of Peninsula Spotlight in today’s Peninsula Daily News.
* The state Parks and Recreation Commission is spearheading an effort to have volunteers clean Pacific Coast beaches and complete a variety of projects within state parks this weekend.
Gov. Gary Locke proclaimed Saturday and Sunday as official Operation Shore Patrol Days and Saturday as Public Lands Day.
Members of the Quinault, Quileute, Hoh and Makah tribes will participate in the cleanup as well as many other area school, business and service organizations.
* For the fourth year, State Parks will participate in National Public Lands Day by educating the public, building partnerships and improving public lands for outdoor recreation.
Fees will be charged at most state parks, but can be waived if people contact parks to volunteer.
* A grand opening celebration for the Clallam County Family YMCA, 302 S. Francis St., Port Angeles, is set for Saturday between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
The event will include a ceremony with a ribbon cutting, raffles, tours, an art sampler, contests and blood pressure and cholesterol checks.
* Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary scientists will share the results of a nine-day research expedition during an open house Sunday.
The free open house will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at City Pier in Port Angeles and will include tours of the MV Auriga research ship, educational displays, posters, videos of the exploration, displays of organisms collected and the opportunity to talk to scientists.
* A self-guided tour of artists’ studios in the Port Angeles area is set for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Artists will demonstrate techniques and discuss their artistic visions. The event is sponsored by the American Association of University Women Clallam Branch to benefit scholarships for young women.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and are being sold at bookstores.
See a schedule of events on Page 7 of Peninsula Spotlight in today’s Peninsula Daily News.
* Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society will have a work party from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday to landscape and maintain buildings at Railroad Bridge Park, 2151 W. Hendrickson Road, Sequim.
