NOTE: “Today” and “tonight” refer to Friday, Sept. 18.
QUILCENE — The Quilcene Fair and Parade is a tradition that closes the summer with a celebration of small-town life and family fun.
“Not everyone can live in Quilcene, but if you come on down on Saturday, you can be part of the town for a day,” said Greg Brotherton, one of the organizers of Saturday’s fair.
Visitors can become part of posterity since one of the activities is, immediately after the parade, the taking of the annual community picture in which all present are invited to participate.
The fair and parade take place from 8 a.m. until dark Saturday in and around Quilcene School, 294715 U.S. Highway 101.
Brotherton hopes to see 500 people attend but said attendance is dependent on the weather.
The main events have always been Saturdays with some activities Fridays and Sundays.
This year, the only event outside of Saturday is the carnival, which is open from about 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. today and from about 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday.
An all-day carnival ticket is $20.
Also new this year is the presence of a single musical guest instead of a slate of performers.
Lobo Del Mar to perform
Lobo Del Mar, a multicultural music and dance troupe from Port Hadlock, will perform from noon to 3:30 p.m. behind the school.
The Quilcene Village Fair and Parade began in 1980 and has been an annual event run by volunteers ever since.
Brotherton said a core group of about 15 volunteers organizes the annual event.
It has always celebrated local dignitaries and follows a loose theme.
Two types of farming
This year, the festival is celebrating two types of farming: agriculture and aquaculture.
“There is a lot of farming down here, both on land and on sea,” Brotherton said.
“It feels right for us to honor everyone who is involved in this.”
The parade’s grand marshal, Serendipity Farm owner Chris Llewellyn, runs a three-generation family enterprise that incorporates recreation, conservation and sustainable agriculture.
The fair’s king and queen, Marko Colby and Hanako Myers, are owners of Midori Farm, a 29-acre farm that grows organic vegetables, garden starts and seeds.
They make their own fermented sauerkraut and kimchi from their produce.
This year’s pioneer citizens, Dorothy and Robert Schramek, have a four-generation connection with Quilcene and are both retired from the U.S. Forest Service.
Made in Quilcene
Made in Quilcene, a cottage industry that features handmade items specific to Quilcene, will make its debut at the fair this year.
According to participant Linda Herzog, the team is looking to manufacture and market handmade items specific to Quilcene.
The team is exploring the possibility of Made in Quilcene becoming a community cooperative that everyone will be able to join and profit from, said Herzog, a participant and the initiator of the Quilcene Conversations community work.
As an experiment, woodworker David Haakenson created a special necklace consisting of a wooden circle and a line creating a “Q” with an imitation pearl mounted on the inside.
The pearl is reminiscent of Quilcene’s motto as the Pearl of the Peninsula.
The necklaces will be given away to anyone who completes a short survey questionnaire about their skills and crafts interest and what they expect the business could become.
Prizes will be given for produce. The Gardeners’ Corner display, sponsored by the Quilcene-Brinnon Garden Club and located in the Quilcene School multi-use room, will offer prizes for the longest zucchini, biggest pumpkin, heaviest tomato, smallest carrot, prettiest jar of pickles, best scarecrow, best jam and best jelly.
Saturday’s schedule
Saturday’s events, most of which are free to the public, are:
■ 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. — Breakfast served inside the school, with proceeds benefiting the Quilcene Vocational Club; $5.
■ 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. — South County Classic Cruisers car show, with more than 50 cars behind Quilcene School; raffle prizes, T-shirts for sale and a chance to swap extra car parts; $10 per vehicle; free admission to public.
■ 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Gardeners’ Corner in the school’s multipurpose room will feature vegetables from local gardens.
■ 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Vendors offering crafts and food.
■ 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. — Carnival.
■ 11 a.m. — Grand Parade begins in front of the school and moves south to the community center.
■ Community photo — Taken right after the parade.
■ 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Lunch served inside the school, with proceeds benefiting the Quilcene Vocational Club; $5.
■ Noon to 3:30 p.m. — Lobo Del Mar performs behind Quilcene School.
■ 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. — Burn-out demonstration at the car show.
For more information, go to www.quilcenefair.com.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
