PORT LUDLOW — Port Ludlow Days, a three-day community festival, begins today at and around the Resort at Port Ludlow and runs through Saturday and Sunday.
Events range from a pet photo contest and parade to an art show, a car show and a vendors fair featuring 50 artisans.
The event starts off with a bang this afternoon with a shotgun start to the annual golf tournament at 1:30 p.m.
The fee for the tournament — $30 for Port Ludlow Golf Club members and $60 for nonmembers — covers a golf cart for the day, barbecued burgers, range balls and chances to win a tee prize.
Also today, the farmers market will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Port Ludlow Village Center.
Pet photographs will be among the offerings.
Family fun
Organizers of Port Ludlow Days say the festival provides a multitude of events for all ages.
“This is a true family-friendly event,” said Debbie Waldrop, operations manager of the Resort at Port Ludlow, located at 1 Heron Road.
“We want to show off the community and develop its identity as a travel destination.
“It has a great combination of the forest and the bay.”
Waldrop, who only recently moved to the area and has not witnessed a Port Ludlow Days firsthand, expects about 3,000 people at the festival.
Port Ludlow itself has a population of about 2,000.
She said that there will be plenty of accessible, free parking.
“This is a friendly community,” said Linda Karp, who is coordinating the 60 crafts vendors.
“It is like one big family.”
Diverse selection
Karp said the vendor selection is diverse and represents artists from throughout the region.
The requirements for participation, aside from quality, is that the art is handmade and unique.
“We have all kinds of great, handmade art,” Karp said.
“They come from as far as Marysville and Medford, Ore., but most of them are local and from the North Olympic Peninsula,” she added.
Karp said that about 60 percent of the artists are returning from previous years.
“We must be doing something right because most of them want to come back,” she said.
“They must be making some sales and doing well.”
While this month’s Port Hadlock Days featured racing lawn mowers, Port Ludlow’s recreational vehicle of choice is the golf cart during the tournament on Port Ludlow’s world-class course.
Music is also a big part of the event.
Festival attendees will be able to enjoy music from the North West Country Boys’ classic country hits to Na Hula O Kauhale No Nahele Kai’s dances from the islands of the Pacific.
Other events include a pet photo contest and parade, the Artists’ League gallery and sale, the fire district and sheriff’s department exhibit, beautiful trail hiking, Port Ludlow Days’ car show and “Gimmick Rally,” the first ever community block party and a Coast Guard rescue demonstration.
The schedule Saturday and Sunday:
Saturday
• 9 a.m.: Hiking on Port Ludlow Trails; meet group at Ludlow marina.
• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Car Show, upper parking lots.
• 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Vendors Fair, with pet photos by Harry Von Stark, Harbormaster parking lots.
Artists’ League Gallery open, Harbormaster upper floor.
• 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Alligator Jazz Band, Harbormaster parking lot stage.
• Noon: Etchells Regatta at Burner Point viewing area.
• 1:15 to 1:45 p.m.: Naki’i, Hawaiian music.
• 1:30 p.m.: Car Show and “Gimmick Rally.”
• 2 p.m.: Fire and rescue team auto extrication demonstration.
• 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., Na Hula O Kauhale No Nahele Kai Hawaiian dancers.
• 3 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.: Washington Old-Time Fiddlers.
• 4 p.m.: Car show awards ceremony.
• 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.: Windermere Block Party with Chef Dan’s barbecue and music by the Dixi-Blu Band on the lagoon lawn, admission $10.
Sunday
• 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: U.S. Coast Guard cutter tours; Vendors Fair, Harbormaster parking lots; Artists’ League Gallery open, Harbormaster upper floor; fire and rescue and Sheriff’s Department displays, next door to Harbormaster.
• Noon: Etchells Regatta, Burner Point viewing area.
• Noon – 1:45 p.m.: Delta Rays, zydeco and other dance music.
• 2 p.m.: Fire and rescue team auto extrication demonstration.
• 2 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.: Music by the Tune Stranglers.
• 4 p.m.: Pet parade and pet show award ceremony.
• 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.: Music by the Northwest Country Boys.
For more information visit www.portludlowresort.com or phone 877-805-0868.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
Features Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
