Dungeness River Festival may be on one day only next year

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, September 28, 2016

SEQUIM — Next year’s Dungeness River Festival might be a one-day affair.

Powell Jones, executive director of the Dungeness River Audubon Center, said he and other organizers will discuss changes for next year with the possibility of adding exhibitors and making the festival a one-day event.

The 17th Dungeness River Festival on Sept. 23-24 at Railroad Bridge Park drew about 2,500 people, most on Friday, Jones said.

Jones said about 70 percent of the attendance comes Friday; on Saturday, it competes with other area events, which leads to lower numbers.

“I’d like to see it go into the evening on Friday with music in the evening with food and not compete on Saturday,” Jones said.

“We [event organizers] want to support other events as much as possible and have them support us, too.”

Traditional event

As is tradition, the event promotes the Olympic Peninsula’s natural and cultural resources through hands-on exhibits and various activities. It also featured live music, food and the Olympic Driftwood Sculptors’ annual show Saturday and Sunday in the river center.

“I think the weather for years has been iffy, but this year was great,” Jones said. “We had a few more exhibitors and an overall pretty positive outcome.”

For more information on the festival or river center, visit www.DungenessRiverCenter.org or call 360-681-4076.