NOTE: “Today” and “tonight” refer to Friday, Dec. 18.
Choo-choo rides and “A Christmas Story” performances are among the activities planned on the North Olympic Peninsula this weekend.
For information about FarmStrong’s concert in Port Angeles and other arts news, see Peninsula Spotlight, the Peninsula Daily News’ weekly entertainment magazine included with today’s PDN.
Information also is available in the interactive calendar at www.peninsuladailynews.com.
PORT TOWNSEND
Discovery Dance
PORT TOWNSEND — The music of Tina Turner, Ray Charles, Cole Porter, Benny Goodman and many others from the 1920s through the 2000s will pour out as Robin Bessier and her Full Circle band come around to the Port Townsend Elks Lodge tonight.
The Discovery Dance club, a nonprofit group promoting ballroom and social dancing, welcomes singles, couples and youngsters at the 7 p.m. party at the lodge, 555 Otto St. off Old Fort Townsend Road.
Admission is $10, including instructor Janice Eklund’s dance lesson at the beginning of the night.
Eklund will teach the waltz, and then Full Circle will play some waltz-tempo numbers mixed into East Coast and West Coast swing, foxtrot, two-step and cha-cha starting at 8 p.m.
All ages are welcome, no partner or registration is necessary and dressy attire is encouraged.
More information about tonight’s event can be found at www.olympicpeninsuladance.com.
Sing-along slated
PORT TOWNSEND — Unity of Port Townsend at the Unity Spiritual Enrichment Center will present its second annual Christmas Carol Sing Along at 6 p.m. today.
Everyone is invited to come and share an early evening holiday gathering of Christmas carol-lovers, led on the piano by Pat Hundschildt at the center, 3918 San Juan Ave.
Song “menus” will be available for participants to call out their favorite seasonal songs and the words will be projected on a screen for easy reading.
This is the fifth Christmas Carol Sing-along offered by Unity of Port Townsend.
Admission is free.
For more information, visit www.unitypt.org.
Conversation Cafe
PORT TOWNSEND — Conversation Cafe meets at 11:45 a.m. every Friday at Alchemy Restaurant.
The topic for today’s gathering will be “The South.”
The restaurant is located at Taylor and Washington streets. Buying food is not required.
The gatherings conclude before 1:30 p.m.
All are welcome.
‘Christmas Story’
PORT TOWNSEND — Key City Public Theatre will present “A Christmas Story” through this Sunday only at the Key City Playhouse, 419 Washington St.
Tickets are $24 for performances at 7 p.m. tonight and Saturday or $20 for Sunday’s 2:30 p.m. matinee.
To purchase, phone 360-385-KCPT (5278) or visit www.keycitypublictheatre.org.
Folk song night
PORT TOWNSEND — The public is invited to a friendly session of singing traditional songs and ballads at 7 p.m. today.
The idea is to preserve traditions and stories through the medium of song at 1805 Rosewood St.
All voices and instruments are welcome.
For information, contact Chris Gilbert at 360-554-0505 or chris_j_gilbert@msn.com.
Contra dance
PORT TOWNSEND — Fred Park will lead dances while Laurie Andres and other friends play the driving tunes for the Third Saturday Contra Dance at the Quimper Grange from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday.
The grange is located at 1219 Corona St.
Tickets are $6 for adults.
For information, contact Jo Yount at 360-385-0456 or joyount@olypen.com.
Country Christmas
PORT TOWNSEND — New Life Church will have a Down Home Country Christmas evening from 7 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
This free family gathering will offer an evening of singing and refreshments for all ages at the church, 1636 Hastings Ave.
For more information, email Ari at newlifeptwa@gmail.com, phone the church office at 360-385-7717 or visit www.newlifept.org/music-events.html.
Choo-Choo rides
PORT TOWNSEND — The Port Townsend Main Street Program and Kiwanis Clubs of Port Townsend will offer Kiwanis Choo Choo Rides for families across the street from the Jefferson Museum of Art & History from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
The rides will start at 540 Water St., in front of Pope Marine Park.
A donation of $5 per person is requested, and all funds will go to Kiwanis charitable programs.
For more information, phone Dawn Pierson at 360-385-7911, email admin@ptmainstreet.org or visit www.ptmainstreet.org.
Coffee concert
PORT TOWNSEND — Pianists Gwendolyn Moore and Barbara Hinchliff will play Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Suite,” Christmas carols and Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” at the Turtle Bluff Coffee Concert at 2 p.m. Sunday.
The concert will take place at 523 Blue Ridge.
For information, contact Moore at 360-385-2626 or email trtlbluf@olympus.net.
CHIMACUM
Juletrefest, Santa Lucia
CHIMACUM — Thea Foss No. 45 Daughters of Norway will meet at the Tri-Area Community Center at 1 p.m. Sunday.
The Daughters will host the annual Juletrefest, featuring children dancing around the tree, the Santa Lucia procession, the Christmas story and the singing of Christmas songs at the center, located at 10 West Valley Road.
Donations of nonperishable items will be collected at the door for the Tri-Area Food Bank, and there will be a Scandinavian community potluck to follow.
Membership is open to women of Nordic ancestry.
The public is welcome.
For more information, phone Kari Mathews, at 360-531-4512 or email daughtersofnorway45@gmail.com.
‘12 Days’ performance
CHIMACUM — The Chimacum High School Drama Performance Club presents a spinoff of the beloved Christmas song “The 12 Days of Christmas” today, Saturday and Sunday.
The show starts at 7 p.m. (doors open a half-hour before showtime) today and Saturday, and 3:30 p.m. Sunday in the Chimacum High School auditorium, 91 West Valley Road.
Tickets are $5, free for children 12 and younger.
For information, go to http://csd49.org/Page/42.
PORT HADLOCK
Boffer swordplay
PORT HADLOCK — The Jefferson County Library will host boffer swordplay from 2:45 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. today.
The free program at the library at 620 Cedar Ave. is for children age 9 to 18.
Boffers, constructed of foam-wrapped PVC pipe, duct tape and some imagination, are used in live-action role-playing games and mock combat.
Boffers will be available, but participants are invited to bring their own.
Participants should wear comfortable clothes and expect to be outside for part of the time, weather permitting.
For information, contact Brwyn Griffin at 360-385-6544 or bgriffin@jclibrary.info.
QUILCENE
Christmas concert
QUILCENE — The Christmas Ensemble Concert will take place at the Quilcene Community Center at 6 p.m. Saturday.
Everyone is invited to hear Christmas music and join in singing some classic Christmas carols.
Refreshments will follow at the community center, 294952 U.S. Highway 101.
Walk-through display
QUILCENE — There will be a free walk-through holiday display of lights behind the Josephine Campbell Building, 294963 U.S. Highway 101, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. until Saturday, Jan. 9.
This will give walkers a chance to see the new Pearl G. Thrasher Memorial Garden.
BRINNON
Build-a-boat
BRINNON — Pleasant Harbor Marina will host a build-a-boat family activity night from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
Families are invited to build their own boats from one of three kits and then take them home.
The marina is located at 308913 U.S. Highway 101.
For information, call 360-796-4611.
BLYN
Holiday light tour
BLYN — The Jamestown Winter Express Holiday Light Tour will have hourly trips to see the lights around Discovery Bay from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. today.
Tours will pick up at the Cedar Stop, located near the east entrance of 7 Cedars Casino, 270756 U.S. Highway 101.
Complimentary warm holiday beverages will be served on the patio after every tour.
SEQUIM
Thrift shop open
SEQUIM — The Sequim-Dungeness Hospital Guild’s Thrift Shop will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
Holiday decorations, items of clothing and cookware are in stock at the thrift shop, 204 W. Bell St.
Fine jewelry, books and puzzles, designer purses and other items await buyers.
All white-tagged items will be marked half-price.
The shop will close Dec. 19 until Jan. 4.
Profits from the thrift shop go back into the community.
A day of giving
SEQUIM — SunLand Golf & Country Club, 109 Hilltop Drive, will host “A Day of Giving” from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
The event will provide an opportunity for children to help decorate cookies for homeless care packages, meet with Santa and have a photograph taken.
Adults are asked to bring donations of the following items for the homeless care packages: nonperishable food items, blankets, hats, socks, Chapstick, toiletries, school supplies and new unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots.
Downtown caroling
SEQUIM — Community Christmas caroling, led by Craig Buhler, will take place from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Centennial Place, located at Sequim Avenue and Washington Street.
Song sheets will be provided.
Fiddlers play
SEQUIM — The Washington Old Time Fiddlers Association will meet and perform from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the Sequim Prairie Grange.
There will be an on-stage performance of fiddle, country and bluegrass by WOTFA members at the grange, 290 Macleay Road.
The performance is free and open to the public.
Donations will benefit fiddler scholarships.
PORT ANGELES
Photos with Santa
PORT ANGELES — The Olympic Peninsula YMCA will offer free photos with Santa today.
Participants can get a picture between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. or 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Y, 302 S. Francis St.
Bring a camera or use the YMCA’s, and they will email the photos.
For more information, phone 360-452-9244.
Voices for Veterans
PORT ANGELES — Voices for Veterans will give out winter coats, hats, gloves and scarves to any veterans who may need them at the Veterans Center from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. today.
For more information, visit the center at 302 S. Francis St. or call 360-457-5251.
Food bank carolers
PORT ANGELES — The fourth annual “Christmas Caroling for the Food Bank” will be today, Saturday and Sunday.
Carolers from the local Girl Scout Troops, as well as students from Stevens Middle School, Port Angeles High School and Peninsula College, will visit homes to sing carols and ask for donations for the Port Angeles Food Bank.
Food drive
PORT ANGELES — Clallam County Fire District No. 2 volunteer firefighters and EMTs will be at the Lincoln Street Safeway from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday for their annual Fill the Fire Engine Food Drive.
The public is asked to bring food donations to the firetruck in the parking lot.
For information, call 360-417-4790 or go to www.clallamfire2.org.
Santa lifeguard
PORT ANGELES — William Shore Memorial Pool will have Santa as a lifeguard from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Santa will make a splash appearance during open swim to hand out candy canes and hear what the kids want for Christmas at the pool, located at 302 S. Francis St.
General admission rates apply.
For more information, contact James Schultz at 360-417-9767 or jschultz@williamshorepool.org, or visit www.williamshorepool.org.
Christmas bazaar
PORT ANGELES — The Lower Elwha Klallam tribe will host a Christmas bazaar from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in the Lower Gymnasium.
Native American artists from around the region will sell authentic Native American artwork to the public at the gymnasium, 2851 Lower Elwha Road.
There will be a wide variety of different items that can be purchased, from baked goods to handcrafted jewelry.
Admission is free, and visitors and vendors will be entered into a drawing to win door prizes that will be drawn every hour.
Tables are available to anyone for $16 for the entire event.
The Port Angeles High School Indian Club will host a food fundraiser Saturday in the Lower Elwha Dining Hall.
For more information, call Brenda Francis at 360-452-8471, ext. 137, or visit the tribe’s website at www.elwha.org.
Vendors should contact Rachel Hagaman, economic development director, at 360-452-8471, ext. 142.
Veterans dinner
PORT ANGELES — Reservations are still being taken for the fourth annual Veterans Holiday Dinner on Sunday.
The free dinner for veterans and their significant others or companions will be at Smugglers Landing at The Landing mall, 115 E. Railroad Ave.
Reservations are necessary.
Seating is available at 3 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. The dinner is open only to those 21 and older, as the seating area is in the bar.
Eighty reservations will be taken for each seating time.
To schedule a reservation, call the Northwest Veterans Resource Center at 360-797-1791 or email nwvrc@outlook.com.
FORKS
Family storytime
FORKS — The Forks Library, 171 S. Forks Ave., will have family storytime for preschoolers, ages infant through 5, at 10:30 a.m. today.
Activities such as talking, reading, playing and singing songs play an important part in childhood development.
For more information, phone the library at 360-374-6402, ext. 7791.
Kid’s Christmas party
FORKS — The Forks Elks Lodge will hold its annual Kid’s Christmas Party with Santa from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
There will be crafts for children to make things, treats, games and photos with Santa.
This event at 941 Merchants Road is free and open to the public.
Saturday night dinner
FORKS — The Emblem Club will hold its Saturday Night Dinner with prime rib at the Forks Elks Lodge, 941 Merchants Road, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday.
The cost is $20 for adults, $18 for seniors 60 and older and for those younger than 12, and free for kids 3 and younger.
Emblem Club dinners are offered the third Saturday of each month.
Proceeds will benefit local charities.
Gingerbread contest
FORKS — This is the final week of the Gingerbread House Contest at Forks Outfitters, 950 S. Forks Ave.
Kits must be purchased at the store, and decorated houses should be returned for the contest.
Cash prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place and announced Dec. 26.
