PORT ANGELES — A menagerie is taking form on Hollywood Beach as five professional sand sculptors and two local teams build their visions of “Going to the Zoo” in sand during the three-day 48th annual Arts in Action festival.
The 11th annual Windermere Sand Sculpture Classic gallery — as well as the Arts in Action’s booths, music and car shows — opened Friday and continues today (Saturday) and Sunday at Hollywood Beach and City Pier on the downtown Port Angeles waterfront at Railroad Avenue and Lincoln Street.
Hours are from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today (Saturday) and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free.
In association with Arts in Action, downtown merchants are holding “Downtown in Action” with special sales, street performers, sidewalk chalk and face painting, kids’ coloring contest and, at noon today (Saturday), a behind the scenes tour of five businesses.
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Sand sculpture contest
Five world-class sand sculptors, plus community sculpting teams from Merrill & Ring and Phoenix Dragon Martial Arts School, are competing in the sand sculpture contest.
The sculptures can be easily viewed from the pier area, but admission to the professional sand sculpture gallery for close-up looks is $2 for adults — and free for children younger than 12 when accompanied by an adult.
Admission to the Local Team Gallery is free.
Judging for the sculptures will take place this afternoon (Saturday), followed by an invitation-only awards dinner at 6 p.m.
The juried contest also will offer paid visitors the opportunity to vote for the People’s Choice award by placing quarters in the boxes by their favorite exhibit.
Each year, 12 truckloads of glacial sand are brought to the beach from local storage and Silverdale.
The glacial sand holds its shape better than the sand that naturally occurs on local beaches.
Sculptors began carving their creations early Thursday morning.
When the event opened Friday, the sculptures were about a third complete, and onlookers today can watch as zoo animals and other shapes and details emerge from the piles of sand.
There are only about 100 professional, world-class sand sculptors in the world.
Competitors
This year’s competitors include Sue McGrew of Tacoma; Damon Farmer of Versailles, Ky.; Sandis Kondrats of Latvia; Craig Mutch of Vancouver, B.C.; and Brent Terry of Seattle.
Farmer created a display sculpture for the festival at Windermere Real Estate, 711 E. Front St., that directs sand sculpture fans and others west toward the “zoo” in the waterfront and downtown area.
Arts in Action is sponsored by Nor’wester Rotary Club of Port Angeles.
Nearly 50 local, regional and national artisans are offering their products at a juried arts and crafts fair on City Pier.
A juried fair means the vendors have been reviewed for being the actual producer of their merchandise and the quality of their product before they are accepted.
Vendors will offer custom, hand-painted wooden signs; hand-crafted jewelry; fabric art; walking sticks; wooden dishes; copper work; leather products; and many other choices.
Commercial vendor booths also are planned.
Treats from local restaurants are on hand.
Indian cuisine, seafood, barbecue, Chinese food, burgers, hot dogs and Pacific Northwestern foods are available from vendors or at restaurants surrounding the festival.
Fair favorites such as funnel cakes, kettle corn, sno-cones and cotton candy can be found at vendor and food court locations.
Music
Today (Saturday) and Sunday, music — acoustic to bluegrass, jazz, blues, rock and classic rock — will be performed at the music stage in the City Pier parking lot near the festival vendors.
The music will begin at 10 a.m. today (Saturday) and 10:30 a.m. Sunday.
Here are the schedules:
Today (Saturday)
■ 10 a.m.: MNMG, acoustic.
■ 11 a.m.: Luck of the Draw, bluegrass.
■ 12:15 p.m.: Zach Zenovic, jazz guitar.
■ 1:30 p.m.: Locos Only, Americana light rock.
■ 3 p.m.: Dan and the Juan de Fuca Band, original rock.
■ 4:30 p.m.: Soul Shakers, blues.
■ 6 p.m.: All About Me, light classic rock.
Sunday
■ 10:30 a.m.: Howly and Sandy, acoustic.
■ Noon: Retro Guys, classic rock.
■ 1:30 p.m.: Black Rock, classic rock.
■ 3 p.m.: Dean Ratzman, standards.
Car show
Two car shows are planned on City Pier.
Today (Saturday) “baby” Thunderbirds and Corvettes will rumble into the downtown waterfront area.
More than 30 classic and modern Porsches will be on display Sunday.
The Port Angeles Farmers Market will be held in The Gateway pavilion from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today (Saturday).
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
