Here’s a round-up of some fun things to do this weekend …

Thursday, 8/14, 6 p.m., Music in the Park: Shelton’s outdoor summer concert series at the Shelton Post Office Park in downtown Shelton will feature the band Reincarnation of Rock and Roll this week. Relax and enjoy some “oldies but goodies” from Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin, and others. Dress for the weather and come prepared to sit on the lawn. You can find more information here and here.

Saturday, 8/16, 12-3 p.m., Harmony Hill SummerFest & Open House: If you’re a supporter of Harmony Hill, you won’t want to miss their SummerFest and Open House, with tours, light refreshments, a Storytelling Gathering and a garden Q&A session with gardening expert Ann Lovejoy. Admission is free. You can find more information at the Harmony Hill web site.

Saturday, 8/16, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Shelton Art Festival: Come to the Shelton Civic Center and enjoy photography, ceramics, jewelry, wood sculpture, quilts, paintings, fiber arts, poetry, and knits.

Saturday, 8/16 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., 2nd annual Wetlands Festival: Theler Community Center will is sponsoring this festival, with a chili cook-off, tons of vendors, the Belfair Farmers Market, and a special performance by The Voetberg Family starting at 4 pm! Take a walk in the wetlands, enjoy some chili and an amazing concert!

Saturday, 8/16, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Salmon Fest: This festival, which includes a salmon BBQ, salmon exhibits, live performances, fine arts, and a “Kids of All Ages” zone, takes place in Shelton, WA, at the Little Creek Casino Resort parking lot. For more information, call Leslie at 360-432-3838.

Saturday and Sunday, August 16-17, Salmon Derby: The 8th annual Hood Canal Salmon Derby offers prizes of $500, $750, and $1000 for first through third place winners. Tickets cost $25. There’s also a FREE kids derby with one $100 first place prize. Get more info at the website for the South Sound Chapter of the Puget Sound Anglers.

Now you know there are no excuses for sitting inside and staring at the walls this weekend. Get out there and have some fun!

The United States boasts lots of great places to live, but I personally think that the Pacific Northwest tops the list. In fact, here are the first five of my top ten reasons why I think summers are great here:

1. Extra Long Days: In the summer time we enjoy amazing long days, with the sun rising EARLY in the morning, and setting LATE at night. There’s nothing like watching the sunset at 9:45 in the evening.
2. An Incredibly Temperate Climate: Most people think of the Pacific Northwest as constantly rainy, but here in the summer we get our fair share of sunny, warm (but not overly hot) days, with moderate humidity. True, we may get a summer sprinkle or two, but summertime here usually brings with it a seasonal drought, and temperatures in the 70s and 80s. In other words, perfect weather.
3. Beautiful Scenery: Do you like mountain views? We have those. Do you like water views? We have those. Do you like forest views? We have those. Do you like forested mountains rising above lakes, fjords, bays, or rivers? We have those, too! There are very few places on earth as beautiful as the Pacific Northwest.
4. Great opportunities for outdoor life: Camping, hiking, sailing, kayaking, geocaching, windsurfing, waterskiing, fishing, hunting, shellfishing, biking, golfing, diving … just to name a few!
5. Great State Parks which provide venues for the activities in #4 (and more). But they’re popular, so you’ll probably need to make reservations early in the year if you want to get space!

We’ll cover reasons 6-10 in a future post, so stay tuned!

If you’re a resident of the Kitsap Peninsula, or the Pacific Northwest, leave a comment below and share your favorite reasons for living here!

This weekend Silverdale will host the Silverdale Thunder Hydroplane Races on August 8-10th.

Racing begins Saturday morning with qualifying runs. Preliminary heats will follow the qualifying runs and will determine which teams will be “seeded” into the final heat, eligible to win the Silverdale Thunder Trophy.

Even though the racing doesn’t start until Saturday, visitors are welcome to come Friday evening to join the festivities, because there’s more than just racing going on. There will also be a carnival, live music, a beer garden, and local groups performing on a “Family Stage” (Saturday afternoon). You can get more information, including a schedule of events, at the Silverdale Thunder Hydroplane Races website.

And if you’re curious about what the view from the cockpit is like during one of these races, check out this video on YouTube:

If hydroplane racing isn’t your cup of tea, you might enjoy stopping by the 7th annual “Taste of Hood Canal” in downtown Belfair (on Clifton Lane) on Saturday, August 9th, instead. The day kicks off with the Mason County Fire District 2 Pancake Breakfast, served from 8-11:30 a.m., with the rest of the events beginning at 10 a.m. (The pancake breakfast will be served at Station 21, 460 NE Old Belfair Highway.)

The Taste of Hood Canal, sponsored by the North Mason Rotary Club, features a custom and classic car show, microbreweries, wine tasting, specialties from local restaurants, family entertainment and live music all day, arts and crafts, antique fire engines, local artists, and food booths featuring local delicacies like grilled oysters.

You can park on the Old Belfair Highway, just 500 feet from the event, or take the free shuttle from Sandhill Elementary School.

Of course, if you can’t make up your mind, you could always spend Saturday at the “Taste of Hood Canal” and Friday night and Sunday at the races!

This coming weekend, August 8-10th, the Alderbrook Golf & Yacht Club (AGYC) will host its 38th annual “Skippers and Mates” golf tournament. This is AGYC’s largest golf tournament of the year and includes golfing couples from as far away as Bellingham, WA.

The festivities begin on Friday, August 8th with a practice round, and the tournament itself will take place on Saturday and Sunday, August 9th and 10th. Participants will enjoy continental breakfasts and delicious lunches on Saturday and Sunday, as well as a buffet dinner on Saturday night.

The frosting on the cake is the $6,000 prize fund for the winners. That makes for some exciting stakes, I think!

Even though registration for this tournament closed on August 1st, you can still enjoy golfing on one of the nicest courses in Washington State, because the Alderbrook Golf Course is open to the public. 

Here’s what one AGYC member has to say about the Alderbrook golf course:

“The Alderbrook golf course is cut into the forested hills just a mile from the Alderbrook Inn on the Canal. Someday you will be coming down our finishing hole, you will look over the 18th green, see the majestic snow-capped Olympic mountains, and say as I have many times, ‘this must be God’s country, and I’m living the dream…’ The golf course is laid out with no parallel fairways. No stray balls to duck, no other golfers to hear. Just listen to the birds and the breeze.”

Sounds like a dream to me, and a very pleasant one, at that!

Here’s a round-up of some of the fun things to do on the Peninsula this weekend:

A Midsummer Night’s Dream – 1950’s Rock & Roll: Shakespeare meets “Happy Days” in this adaptation of Shakespeare’s comedy of mistaken identities set in the Athens High School gym on Prom Night in 1957. Presented by The Mountaineers Players at the Kitsap Forest Theater near Bremerton, shows happen every Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. from Saturday, 8/2 through Sunday, 8/24. You can find more information at the Forest Theater web site.

The Naval Undersea Museum: This Keyport, WA museum — a joint project between the U.S. Navy and the local Museum Foundation — will be showing the film, “The Death of the Edmund Fitzgerald” at 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 2nd. This film explores the fate of this legendary shipwreck, and includes footage from more than 20 years of dives, as well as interviews with relatives of the victims. To get in the mood, you can watch a video tribute to the 29 men who lost their lives in this shipwreck.

Paddle Kitsap: This 2-day event (Friday and Saturday) is sponsored by local paddlers and volunteers with the North Kitsap Trails Association. Although registration to participate in this year’s event is closed, you might want to give a little wave of encouragement to any paddlers you see along the trail, which runs along the coast from Port Gamble to Poulsbo’s waterfront park. And if you’re a paddling enthusiast, mark this event on your calendar so you can register for next year’s event. You can find more information on this event here.

Have you ever seen a yak up close? Or have you ever had a buffalo stick its head in through your open car window, looking for a handout of bread? You can experience all this, and more, at the Olympic Game Farm on the north end of the Olympic Peninsula in Sequim.

It may not sound like much fun, but when we went, we laughed so hard that the video footage we took could barely be watched because we couldn’t hold the camera still enough. This family seemed to have the same problem (although their footage is more viewable than ours).

Many of the animals at the Game Farm are performing animals which have been used in Disney movies. They have buffalo, tigers, zebras, wolves, yaks, and three varieties of bears to see. The “safe” animals roam freely through fields which you can drive through (hence the slobbering buffalo head poking into the car window). Bears and tigers are kept in secure fields for viewing. You can also purchase loaves of bread to feed to the animals.

In addition to the drive-through tour, there is also a walking tour with a barn studio and other items of interest. You can buy a ticket for just the driving part of the farm (which was my favorite), or for just the walking tour, or a combo ticket which includes both. You can find more info on this fun family field trip at the Olympic Game Farm web site.

If you have kids or enjoy animals, you’ll have a great time at the Olympic Game Farm. Just make sure you plan to get your car washed soon after … the buffalo and yaks can really slobber up your windows.  *grin*

This year marks the 100th Mason County Fair and Rodeo, which will be held July 25th, 26th, and 27th at the Mason County Fairgrounds in Shelton, WA. In honor of this centennial, the fair is waiving the admission fee. That’s right, folks – you can get into the fair for FREE! (There will still be fees for the rodeo, concerts, and carnival rides.)

Here are some of the highlights of this year’s fair and rodeo:

• Country singer Lacey D performs on Saturday at noon in Building 17.
• Watch exciting rodeo events (admission fee to rodeo is $10 for adults)
• View the Roxy 94.5 Kids Art Contest entries and winners in the Fine Arts Building
• Enjoy (or participate in!) the first annual hands-free chocolate pie eating contest for the Guinness Book of World Records (must be 17 years or older to participate)
• Attend a Trent Tomlison concert on Friday night (tickets start at $15)
• Relive your childhood on lots of fun carnival rides (all-day wristbands for $16 in advance, or $18 at the fair – or go on “Buddy Day” and get 2 wristbands for $27)

You can get lots more information on these events at the Mason County Fair web site.

For the past 100 years, Mason County residents have been attending this fair, displaying their prize fruits, vegetables, flowers, wool, quilts, livestock, arts and crafts, and canned goods. And while these skills may have declined in importance for many of us today, the fair gives us a chance to pause, look back, and reflect on where we’ve come from so that we can move forward with confidence. As this year’s theme says: “Pride in the Past, Faith in the Future.”

One of the most unique concerts I’ve ever attended was held in a barn. And no, I’m not referring to a symphony of moos and bleats from barn animals. Instead, I heard world-class musicians performing great pieces from Beethoven, Handel, Mozart and Bach while wearing my blue jeans and sitting on bales of hay.

I’m talking about the Olympic Music Festival, of course. This year marks the 25th anniversary of this wonderful, idyllic summer concert series held in a pastoral setting. It first began with only a few weekends of concerts held during the summer months, but over the years it has expanded to run from late June through the beginning of September, with concerts held each Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.

So if you’re a lover of classical music, or just interested in a new and unique concert experience, you’ll want to check this out. You can find the current season of performers and pieces, as well as directions to the barn, on the Olympic Music Festival web site.

On a side note, on Sunday, July 27th, Alderbrook Properties will host KING-FM classical radio host Steve Reeder along with 10 KING contest winners and their guest(s) to a tour of Alderbrook Properties homes, as well as lunch and a free round of golf at the Alderbrook Golf Course. This is one of KING radio’s “98 Days of Summer” events.

With its rural settings, one wouldn’t necessarily expect classical music to resonate on the Olympic Peninsula, but it does! Join in the fun and check out the Olympic Music Festival. And if you’ve ever attended the festival, share your experience with us in the comments section below!

Whether you’re an art buff, a movie afficionado, or just someone who enjoys a good community festival, we’ve got it all going on here on the peninsula this weekend!

For art lovers, we have two different art shows happening: one in Union and one in Gig Harbor.

The Union Art Show takes place at Cameo Boutique (6871 E. State Route 106 Union, WA 98592; phone 360-898-3200) on Saturday, July 19th, and features the beautiful photography of Nancy MacDonald, known for her captivating shots of Hood Canal scenery and wildlife.

The Gig Harbor Summer Arts Festival begins on Saturday and runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday on Judson Street in downtown Gig Harbor. There you will find almost 130 Northwest artists plying their paintings, jewelry, ceramics, stained glass, metalwork, clothing, basketry, mixed media work, toys and more. Throw in some music and food, and you’ve got the makings of a fun family weekend!

If you’re a community supporter, or if you just love to eat salmon, then you’ll want to head over to Allyn’s Waterfront Park on Saturday or Sunday for their annual Allyn Days Festival and Salmon Bake. The Salmon Bake runs from noon until 6 p.m. on Saturday, although the festival runs both Saturday and Sunday. Enjoy over 100 booths and attractions, including several local micro-breweries and the Hoodsport Winery. You can find more information on the Allyn Community Association web site.

Finish off your Friday or Saturday night with a free outdoor movie at the CinimaGig Outdoor Movies in Gig Harbor. Friday nights are dedicated to the Date Night series, with romantic favorites like Casablanca, Sleepless in Seattle, A League of Their Own, and Singing in the Rain. Saturdays entice families with family favorites like the Bee Movie, Enchanted, The Water Horse, and Happy Feet. Movies start at 8:30 p.m. both nights. For more information, call 253-857-4842.

Exactly one week from today, on July 22nd, the Frank Rodia Ladies Memorial Golf Tournament will kick off at the Alderbrook Golf & Yacht Club.

This tournament, open to female members of the Alderbrook Golf and Yacht Club, began as a memorial honoring Frank Rodia, a golf pro who lived on Hood Canal and supported golf for youth and women. When he passed away, his widow donated funds to put on a golf tournament in his memory. The Alderbrook Ladies Club has also donated money for this tournament, and expanded it as a memorial tournament for Alderbrook members who have passed away.

After the tournament concludes on Thursday, July 24th, everyone will gather at a member’s home for pot luck snacks and beverages, and to applaud the winners of the tournament.

Although this tournament is only open to members of Alderbrook, the Alderbrook Golf Course is open to the public. If you visit the home page of their website, you can watch a slide show of some stunning aerial photos of the golf course. The photo gallery (3rd link down, located on the left side of the home page) also has some wonderful ground-level views of our beautiful course. Check it out!