Winter solstice events, stage performances and live music highlight this weekend’s events on the North Olympic Peninsula.
• The Solstice Bonfire, hosted by Jefferson County 4-H, is set from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds, 4907 Landes St., Port Townsend.
The celebration will feature free stews by Chef Arran Stark, cider and hot cocoa, coronation of the Solstice Royalty, starlit tractor rides, a mini makers’ market, a cupcake fundraiser, fire dancing performances, face painting and music.
In addition to the entertainment, 4-H will sponsor educational demonstrations by airgrounds. 4-H’s motto is “Learn By Doing” — and in collaboration with local business owners Patrick Forrestal from PT Glassworks and Stryker Gooch from Stryker Forge.
Jefferson County 4-H provides a framework for science-based curriculum to be taught outside of school to interested students from all school districts and homeschool programs in the county.
For more information, visit https://extension.wsu.edu/jefferson/4-h.
• A solstice celebration is set from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday in the Palindrome at Eaglemount Winery and Cidery, 1893 S. Jacob Miller Road, Port Townsend.
The community celebration will feature the Solstice Choir Sing-Along at 3 p.m. led by vocalist Laura Newman and pianist Scott Lyte.
Printed books of carols and global songs, from “Frosty The Snowman” to “Hava Nagila” to “One Love” by Bob Marley, will be provided.
The celebration will begin at noon with wine and cider tastings, a holiday market and wreath making.
Children’s book author Ellen O’Shea will lead Holiday Crafting for Kids, making holiday-themed crafts such as snowflakes and handmade gifts from noon to 3 p.m.
The holiday market also will include a photo booth with elves and fairies.
For more information, visit www.eaglemount winery.com.
• “Christmas Dreams” will finish its run with performances at 7:30 p.m. tonight and Saturday and a matinee performance at 2 p.m. Sunday on the main stage at the Port Angeles Community Playhouse, 1235 E. Lauridsen Blvd., Port Angeles.
Tickets are $18 for adults and $9 for students at www.pacommunityplayers.org or at the box office.
The play, written by John Robertson and set in Depression-era Chicago, is a family story about betrayal and forgiveness told with realism, humor and love.
The cast includes Charlie Medlong, Melody Todnem, Daniel Brown, Ben Vanderheiden, Simon Close, Tara Dupont, Rick Mischke and Belle Robinson.
• “Rented Christmas” will finish its run with shows at 7 p.m. tonight and Saturday and a matinee at 2 p.m. Sunday at Olympic Theatre Arts, 414 N. Sequim Ave. Sequim.
Tickets are $20 per person, $15 for students at www.olympictheatrearts.org or at the door.
“The Rented Christmas,” written by Norman and Yvonne Ahearn, tells the story of John Dale, a man who has not had a good Christmas since his parents died years before.
When Dale rents a Christmas from Anne Weston’s rental shop, his housekeeper and cook help Weston to gather local orphans and create a nostalgic Christmas, bringing joy that money cannot buy.
• The Sequim City Band will present “Sounds of the Season” at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Port Angeles Performing Arts Center, 304 E. Park Ave., Port Angeles.
The free concert will feature selections from “A.C. — The Man Who Saved Christmas,” which was co-written by Jay Gitlin and the band’s principal clarinetist, Vincent Oneppo.
The concert will open with “Fanfare for the Festival of Lights” by Evan VanDoren followed by Julie Giroux’s “Christmas Toons,” a medley of classic Christmas cartoon themes, including tunes from “Frosty the Snowman” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”
Also on the program will be “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson, “The Sussex Mummers’ Christmas Carol” by Percy Grainger, “Morning Alleluias for the Winter Solstice” by Ron Nelson, “BaShana HaBa’ah” (“Next Year,” in Hebrew) by Nurit Hirsh.
The concert will close with a medley featuring two songs by Irving Berlin, “Happy Holiday” and “White Christmas” arranged by Ted Ricketts.
The Sequim City Band’s indoor concert season will return to the Port Angeles Performing Arts Center on March 9 with “Dawn to Dusk.”
For more information, visit www.sequimcityband.org.
• Sarah Shea will perform Christmas songs from 6 to 8 tonight at Windrose Cellars, 143 W. Washington St., Sequim.
No cover charge, but reservations are recommended by calling 360-681-0690.
• Shea also will perform from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday at Vintage, 725 Water St., Port Townsend.
No cover charge, but reservations are recommended by calling 360-344-8271.
• Gift wrapping, for donations to the Welfare for Animal Guild, will be available from 4 to 6 today and from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday at Studio Bob, 118½ E. Front St., Port Angeles.
Attendees will be able to enjoy free hot cider and view the art and jewelry in the gallery while they wait.
For more information, call 360-775-2160 or visit www.studiobob.art.
• The Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Education Foundation will take over the Winter Ice Village in Port Angeles from 6 to 9 tonight.
Attendees can enjoy an evening of ice skating and hot chocolate.
Santa Claus is scheduled to make an appearance.
For more information, visit www.wintericevillage.org.
• The Sons of Norway’s Olympic Lodge will conduct a bake sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in the Port Angeles Farmers Market at the Gateway Transit Center, 122 E. Front St., Port Angeles.
The sale will feature lefse, freshly-made and frozen, and other holiday treats.
• “The 12 Cookies of Christmas” will return to Sherwood Assisted Living, 550 W. Hendrickson Road, and The Fifth Avenue Retirement Community, 500 W. Hendrickson Road, in Sequim from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
Attendees will receive an assortment of Christmas cookies at each facility.
Country music artist Buck Ellard will perform at Sherwood and pianist Isabelle Rose will play at The Fifth Avenue.
Attendees also will have the opportunity to take pictures with Santa at Sherwood or with Frosty the Snowman at The Fifth Avenue.
Warm beverages will be provided free of charge.
For more information, call Sherwood Assisted Living at 360-683-3348 or The Fifth Avenue at 360-683-3345.
• Trinity United Methodist Church, 609 Taylor St., Port Townsend, will host its free annual Christmas concert at 7 p.m. Sunday.
The program will include performances by the bell choir and quartet, Trinity Choir, vocal solos and cello and pipe organs.
The Trinity Choir also will perform a new Christmas carol written by Diane Thompson, a Port Townsend musician.
Following a presentation of “The Night Before Christmas,” there will be caroling and a candlelit performance of “Silent Night.”
