CLALLAM BAY-SEKIU — It’s a family reunion, community celebration and the area’s annual fireworks show.
The three-day Clallam Bay-Sekiu Fun Days festival begins today with a scavenger hunt and potluck social.
It continues through Sunday with events ranging from volleyball and a Fun Run to parades to music and drumming.
Youthful focus
A big part of this year’s celebration, the 31st, is varied activities, especially for youths.
“It’s a new focus, trying to bring meaningful activities for kids,” said Tricia Hutson-English, chairwoman of the festival as well as the local fire chief and the Clallam Bay-Sekiu Chamber of Commerce president.
Kids’ activities include a scavenger hunt, a kids’ parade, a session creating birdhouses and a play station.
Hutson-English said the festival is always an occasion for family and school reunions, with local resorts often full of people returning home.
Fireworks show
A festival highlight will be the fireworks show, which will begin at dusk Saturday off Olson’s Resort’s breakwater.
Fireworks this year are dedicated to the late Judy Fredrickson, who “pretty much took care of everybody’s kids” at her day-care business for many years and who was heavily involved in Fun Days, Hutson-English said.
Fredrickson died at the age of 65 in March.
Clallam Bay and Sekiu residents wait until Fun Days each year for fireworks instead of setting them off on Independence Day.
“We try to stagger it,” Hutson-English said, adding that more fireworks will be seen in the area during Makah Days, set Aug. 24-26.
Parades
Another highlight of Fun Days will be the Kids Parade and Grand Parade, both of which are set to begin at 11 a.m. Saturday.
The Grand Parade, which will run from Weel Road to Bogachiel Street, promises to be packed with participants.
“It’s an election year, so I think we’ll have a lot of politicians,” Hutson-English said, adding that floats from other festivals on the North Olympic Peninsula also participate.
Also in the parade will be the dragon usually brought out for Chinese New Year, with its seven people snaking the piece of art through the streets, said Jane Hielman, manager of Sunsets West Co-op and “one of the 180 owners of the co-op.”
The co-op, which is at 16795 state Highway 112, will host a “drum-a-thon” on an electronic drum, music — including music made on dulcimers and banjos — and artists’ demonstrations.
A large canvas will be available for passersby to work on if they choose.
“We’re asking everyone who passes by to add something to the canvas,” Hielman said.
“It should be interesting,” she added.
Arts and crafts show
Throughout the two days will be an arts and crafts show sponsored by the Messy Palettes Art League at the Sekiu Community Center, 42 Rice St.
The show — which will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday — is open to all residents of the Cape Flattery School District or members of the Messy Palettes.
Prizes will be awarded, including cash and ribbons, in adult and children’s categories.
There’s no entry fee, and judging will be by popular vote.
Entries of up to five original pieces per person can be delivered between 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. today.
For more information, phone June Bowlby at 360-963-2221.
Among the events capping the festival Sunday will be a 3.7-mile Fun Run from Front Street in Sekiu along state Highway 112 to Clallam Bay.
Registration is at 9 a.m. Sunday. The entry fee is $5.
Awards will be given to the top three men and women in each division.
For more information, visit http://tinyurl.com/6t8336a.