PORT TOWNSEND — This weekend’s Kinetic Sculpture Race has been called many things throughout its 33-year history, but this year, Janet Emery, race executive director, might have come up with the most appropriate description.
“It’s like Halloween on steroids,” she said.
“People want a reason to dress up and come to town.”
The race, and everything that leads up to it, will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at locations around Port Townsend, with its epicenter the American Legion Hall, 209 Monroe St.
This year’s theme is “It’s a Bug’s World After All,” with Emery predicting “there will be lots of bugs and butterflies flying through Port Townsend this weekend.”
Costume choices
While there are a few rules for race participants, anyone who is moved to put on a freaky costume is encouraged to do so, although Emery suggests “you probably don’t want to come here dressed as bug spray.”
A kinetic sculpture is a human-powered, “artistically enhanced” vehicle that must go through sand, described as kwick sand, and mud — the Dismal Bog — float on water and traverse hilly neighborhoods.
It must have at least one teddy bear aboard at all times, and Kinetic Kops can be bribed, the rules say.
Emery said that this year has seen more pre-race entries — 22 — than in previous years and that she expects more to participate.
“There are always people who feel they need to show up at the last minute,” she said. “You know, the locals.”
Of those vehicles that are preregistered, eight originate from California and five are powered completely by those younger than 18.
This would not have occurred in the race’s early days, when it had a somewhat rowdy reputation.
“In the early days, it was kind of crazy. There was a lot of boozing going on,” said Marilyn Kurka, the event’s head judge.
“We have worked very hard to change our reputation,” she said.
“We are now very much a family event and want to promote that at all times.”
Mini Maker Fair
This is evidenced by the presence of a side event: the Mini Maker Fair, now in its second year.
The fair, sponsored by the 4-H Port Townsend Stem Club in cooperation with the Washington State University Extension service and the Kinetic Sculpture Race, will be from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday next to the Legion hall.
The youth-oriented event includes a variety of exhibits and demonstrations intended to get young people interested in technology, including local robotics teams and radio demonstrations.
The Mini Maker Fair will culminate at 5 p.m. with an address by Erika Bergman, underwater roboticist and National Geographic Young Explorer grant recipient.
She will speak in the Pope Marine Building next to City Pier.
All get prizes
At the Kinetic Sculpture Race, each participant will get a prize packet of items donated by local merchants.
Thirty-four prizes will be awarded, which means some will get more than one, but no one will walk away empty-handed, Kurka said.
The event has a “soft opening” tonight with an Early K-Bird hospitality party from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Old Whiskey Mill, 1038 Water St.
It will be followed by a lighted sculpture parade.
Saturday parade
The real parade — the Glorious Parade full of Glorious Spectators — begins at about noon Saturday. It will include both racers and people who are all dressed up weird and want somewhere to go.
Participants will line up beginning at 11 a.m. in the parking lot adjacent to U.S. Bank, 1239 Water St.
The parade will stumble down Water Street and end up at the Northwest Maritime Center, 431 Water St.
Saturday’s main event is a brake and flotation test.
The first segment begins right after the parade, starting each participant on Monroe Street. Racers speed toward the maritime center and then test their ability to stop and slow down.
The flotation test follows, with participants entering the water and paddling around Point Hudson.
Anyone sinking, appropriately enough, will be disqualified.
Rose Hips Kween
Saturday night’s big blast is the Rose Hips Kween Koronation Ball, beginning at 8 p.m. at the Legion Hall.
This 21-and-older event features “kinetic racers, local krazies and folks from the big city; come dressed in kostume to dance to the funkilicious tunes of Tubaluba, a Northwest horn and funk band,” according to organizers in a news release.
The Kween Kontestants, as they are known, will vie for the “krown” at about 9:30 p.m., and the koronation will be at about 11 p.m.
Race on Sunday
The entire weekend will build up to the race, with participants lining up at about 10 a.m. Sunday at the Legion Hall, where they are expected to ham it up for onlookers.
The race will begin with “a cheap shot at low noon,” according to the rules.
It will go up Monroe Street to Lawrence Street, then into uptown and toward Fort Worden for the sand test.
The race then will meander over to the Jefferson County Fairgrounds for the mud test.
After that, those still in the race will head down to Safeway, onto Sims Way and downtown.
Times vary, but the race generally ends about six hours after it begins.
Three race trophies are awarded: first, last and in the middle, also known as the “Mediocrity Award.”
For more information, go to www.ptkineticrace.org.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
