FORKS — This town embraces the Twilight theme for the 2014 Stephenie Meyer Days festival this weekend, which will include events organized by the fans of Meyer’s vampire-and-werewolf novel series in appreciation of years of enjoyment.
More than 1,000 visitors are expected to attend the three-day, eighth annual festival that began Friday
That number is only a small portion of the some 40,000 visitors who trek to the West End each year to see the setting of the Twilight series of books and movies, and to visit the Hoh Rain Forest and other West End attractions, said Lissy Andros, executive director of the Forks Chamber of Commerce.
But it’s the largest gathering of fans at one time.
The Twilight saga comprises four novels written by Meyer, and five movies based on the books, about a love triangle between Bella, the teenage daughter of the Forks police chief; the “cold” and aloof vampire Edward Cullen; and the “hot” and angry Quileute werewolf Jacob Black.
Meyer attended the 2013 event without advance notice and spent much of the weekend with her fans.
Bella’s birthday
As always, Stephenie Meyer Days will fete the vampiric novels’ fictional character Bella Swan’s birthday, which is Saturday.
Bella’s Birthday Party will be at 2:30 p.m. at Forks Outfitters at 950 S. Forks Ave. Admission is free.
That will be followed by Bella’s Birthday Bash from 9 p.m. to midnight at Leppell’s “Twilight” Central, 130 Spartan Ave., where prizes will be given for outfits and birthday cake will be served. Admission is $30.
This year, celebrations also will honor the anniversary of Bella’s and Edward’s marriage and the birthday of Renesmee, their daughter.
Bella’s and Edward’s Anniversary Party from 7 p.m. to midnight Saturday includes a dinner catered by Port Angeles’ Bella Italia — the scene of their first date — as well as dessert, a cash bar of fine wines, a free photo booth, photo opportunities with the Olympic Coven and a dance.
Tickets were $150; they are sold out.
Renesmee’s Birthday Party — a free celebration of the vampire-human hybrid child of Bella and Edward — will be at Miller Tree Inn, 654 E. Division St., at 11 a.m. Sunday.
Known better as “Nessie,” Renesmee aged four years in only a few days and will celebrate her birthday for centuries to come.
The party will be hosted by her grandparents, Carlisle and Esme, portrayed by cosplay performers.
Giving back
“Many of the fans have said they want to give back to Forks,” Andros said.
Working with area community groups, several fan groups organized two events — a special tribute and a blood drive — to thank the community that has hosted them for eight years, she said.
A blood drive for the Puget Sound Blood Center is set from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in the parking lot at Forks Community Hospital, 530 Bogachiel Way.
It will be closed from noon to 1 p.m. for lunch.
While shoring up supplies for the blood center, the drive also recognizes the humanitarian works of character Dr. Carlisle Cullen, leader of the Cullen vampire coven, and his wife, Esme Cullen.
Blood donors must be 18 years old. They will be greeted by cosplay performers depicting Dr. Cullen and receive free cookies and visits from “Esme.”
Other events include a geocaching challenge, in which participants use a GPS device to navigate to a specific set of coordinates to find Twilight-related clues to solve a puzzle; tours from Leppell’s “Twilight” Central; a baseball game with the Forks Coven Cosplay group; and a bonfire at LaPush’s famous First Beach, where Bella met Jacob Black.
For prices and reserve seating on tours, phone Leppell’s at 360-374-6961.
For more information on Stephenie Meyer Day 2014, visit www.stepheniemeyerday.com.
A booth in downtown Forks will have information on activities.
‘Guy’s List’
A “Guy’s List” of activities for those who accompany Twilight fans but would rather do something else is available at the Forks Area Chamber of Commerce website at www.forkswa.com/Twilight.
The Forks Logging & Mill Tour takes visitors to see active logging sites and mill operations in the Forks area.
To reserve a seat on the tour, phone 360-374-2531 or 800-443-6757.
The West End Thunder Drag Races roar into town from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Forks Municipal Airport on South Forks Avenue.
Individual or small-group activities include hiking in the Hoh Rain Forest, fishing in one of the many rivers near Forks or surfing at LaPush.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
