NOTE: “Today” and “tonight” refer to Friday, July 26.
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 Port Angeles Nor’wester Rotary 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 — opens at 2 p.m. today and stays open until 6 p.m.
The festival will continue Saturday and Sunday at Hollywood Beach and City Pier at Railroad Avenue and Lincoln Street.
Hours will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Five world-class sand sculptors, plus community sculpting teams from Merrill & Ring and Phoenix Dragon Martial Arts School, will compete in the sand sculpture contest.
Admission to the professional sand sculpture gallery will be $2 for adults and free for children younger than 12 when accompanied by an adult.
Admission to the Local Team Gallery will be free.
Judging for the sculptures will take place at 5 p.m. 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 opens today, the sculptures should be about a third complete, and onlookers can watch as 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.
Nearly 50 local, regional and national artisans will offer 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 will be on hand.
Indian cuisine, seafood, barbecue, Chinese food, burgers, hot dogs and Pacific Northwestern foods will be available from vendors or at restaurants surrounding the festival.
Fair favorites such as funnel cakes, kettle corn, sno-cones and cotton candy will be found at vendor and food court locations.
Music
On 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 in front of the festival vendors.
The music will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday and 10:30 a.m. Sunday.
Here are the schedules:
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.
On 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. Saturday.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
