NOTE: “Today” and “tonight” refer to Friday, Sept. 19.
QUILCENE — Every year, Quilcene celebrates the end of the summer in a way residents say could not happen anywhere else.
The 2014 Quilcene Fair & Parade — centered at and around Quilcene School, 294715 U.S. Highway 101 — will be held from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday.
“This represents the end of all the year’s fairs,” said Larry McKeehan, the event’s spokesman.
“We have it in the fall on purpose since everyone is always too busy in the summertime and we like to welcome back people who have been gone for a while.”
The 34th annual event could draw between 800 and 1,000 people, depending on the weather, McKeehan said.
He expects visitors to be a combination of former residents returning home, locals looking for something new — and those who just happen to be passing by.
In past years, this has led to people being recruited as “Tourist of the Day,” invited to participate in the day’s festivities and receive the royal treatment.
Former Tourist of Day
Ruby Nichols, 98, who McKeehan said is now the oldest person in town, was passing through several years ago.
She was asked to be Tourist of the Day — and later ended up moving to Quilcene.
She wants to ride a horse in this year’s parade, though McKeehan doesn’t know if that will actually happen.
“We are looking for a horse right now,” he said.
“And it’s not just a horse; we are looking for someone who will let a 98-year-old woman get on top of that horse.”
McKeehan said there will be no Tourist of the Day recruits this time around.
Instead, sponsors are contacting people who have left town and inviting them to come back for a visit.
3-day carnival
Although the fair is Saturday only, a three-day carnival begins today.
Cascade Amusements Carnival will have rides, games and food from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. today, and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Pre-sale tickets are $15 for one day.
Tickets will be $20 once the carnival begins.
Breakfast, lunch
Breakfast will be served from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., with lunch to follow from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Both meals cost $5 and will be prepared and served by the Quilcene High School Vocational Cooking Club in the school multipurpose room/cafeteria.
Food concessions will operate from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Vendors, informational booths and exhibits are planned from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Car show
The Quilcene Fair includes a car show from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. behind the school, with more than 50 vehicles expected.
Participation is open to all vehicles. The entry fee is $10 per vehicle. Spectators are admitted free.
At 3 p.m. will be a burn-out exhibition at the car show behind Quilcene School.
The show, which includes a car parts swap meet, is sponsored by the South County Classic Car Club.
Highlight: A parade
The main event, a parade with the theme “Quilcene: Gateway to Olympic Mountain Hiking,”will begin at 11 a.m. on Center Valley Road between U.S. Bank and the Quilcene Historical Museum.
The parade will proceed from Center Valley Road south on Highway 101, passing in front of the school and toward the Quilcene Community Center.
The route is in the reverse direction from past years.
Entries include local dignitaries and honorees, floats, vehicles, horses, local groups, candidates, animals, logging and old farm equipment.
Community photograph
Following the parade, at noon, an all-community portrait will be taken in the middle of the highway, which will stop traffic for a few minutes.
A photo contest will award four prizes. Photographs of the Quilcene area will be on display all day in the school multipurpose room.
An all-day Gardener’s Corner, also in the multipurpose room, will display the longest, smallest and best of vegetables, jam and jelly.
More than 100 prizes will be awarded during raffle drawings. Tickets are $1 at U.S. Bank, the Quilcene Museum, Village Store, Munn Bros. Realty and other locations in Quilcene.
Live music
Musical entertainment will take place in the school’s courtyard.
The schedule is:
■ Noon to 1 p.m. — The Pine Hearts, folk-rock, country and mountain music.
■ 1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. — Twisted Roots, folk, classic country, pop cover.
■ 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. — The Fire Inside, Celtic music.
After the fair, a free concert featuring The Village Idiots and Johnny 7 and the Black Crabs is set from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Linger Longer Stage in Worthington Park.
On Saturday night, Twisted Roots will perform again at the Laurel B. Johnson Community Center, 923 Hazel Point Road in Coyle.
Admission is by donation, and all ages are welcome at the 7:30 p.m. show.
This year’s dignitaries are:
■ Grand Marshals Terry and Cleone Telling, members of the Quilcene Historical Museum.
■ Citizen of the Year Patti Walsh Herold, who has lived in Quilcene since 2010 and volunteers at Quilcene School in phonics and reading.
■ King and Queen David and Laurie Neuenschwander, who have lived in Quilcene since 2011.
■ Pioneer Citizens Anne-Marie Nylund, who has lived in Quilcene since 1961, and Mavis Sorensen, who is a member of the Quilcene/Brinnon Garden Club, Quilcene Museum and active in her church with the “backpack” kid and senior center programs.
■ Pioneer Logger King Kenny Harris, who came to Quilcene from Brinnon in 1944 and eventually opened his own business, Harris Logging Co.
■ Most Missed Citizens Bonnie Selvar, now living in Port Ludlow, and Jane-Anne Hirschi, now in Edmonds.
■ Educator of the Year Linda Vleit, who has worked for eight years for the Quilcene School District as a para-professional.
■ Teen Citizens, the Quilcene High School Associated Student Body officers for 2014-15.
For more information, visit www.quilcenefair.com.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
