And if you don’t want to hike deep into the Olympics…

A calendar filled with events is sure to keep North Olympic Peninsula residents busy this weekend.

Art, historical homes, beach cleanups, wine stomping, open houses and other events are all on tap.

Here’s a synopsis of the events:

* The 20th annual West Coast Sea Kayak Symposium will take over Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend today through Sunday.

The Trade Association of Paddle Sports, which sponsors the event, claims it is the biggest conference of its kind.

More than 30 canoe, kayak and accessory manufacturers will spread out on a quarter-mile of sandy beach will products for visitors to try out.

Instructional classes, presentations, contests, food, music and dancing will also highlight the event.

Gates open at 8 a.m. today, Saturday and Sunday.

Tickets at the symposium are $120 for all three days, which allows access to all events and demonstrations.

One-day passes are $60; a beach pass, which only includes access to the demonstrations, is $20.

Tickets for children 13 and under are half-price on three-day and one-day passes.

* Olympic Cellars, 255410 U.S. Highway 101, Port Angeles, is the site of the Grape Stomping Harvest Party from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

The Polka Projekt band begins playing at 1 p.m. and contests will start at 2 p.m. They include a harvest costume contest and grape toss.

The highlight is the grape stomping which starts shortly after 2 p.m.

Tickets are $5 in advance at www.olympiccellars.com or at the winery and $7.50 at the door. Entrance for children under 12 is free, but participants must 16 years old to stomp grapes.

See a schedule of events on Page 4 of Peninsula Spotlight in today’s Peninsula Daily News.

* The Quilcene Fair runs Saturday and Sunday with events including a parade, classic car show, logging show, old time fiddlers and a bluegrass concert.

See a schedule of events on Page 2 of Peninsula Spotlight in today’s Peninsula Daily News.

* Olympic National Park, in celebration of National Public Lands Day, will join with other national parks and other federal land management agencies by waiving entrance fees on Saturday.

In addition, entrance to Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge near Sequim will be free, too.

* Historical homes in Port Townsend will be on display Saturday and Sunday in a fund-raising event for Jefferson General Hospital.

The 36th annual Homes Tour include nine historical homes and offers the chance to see how life was lived in the 19th century homes.

Hours for the guided tour are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Tickets cost $13 for adults and $7 for children younger than 12. They can be purchased at the Port Townsend Visitor Information Center, 2437 E. Sims Way.

See a schedule of events on Page 3 of Peninsula Spotlight in today’s Peninsula Daily News.

* The state Parks and Recreation Commission is spearheading an effort to have volunteers clean Pacific Coast beaches and complete a variety of projects within state parks this weekend.

Gov. Gary Locke proclaimed Saturday and Sunday as official Operation Shore Patrol Days and Saturday as Public Lands Day.

Members of the Quinault, Quileute, Hoh and Makah tribes will participate in the cleanup as well as many other area school, business and service organizations.

* For the fourth year, State Parks will participate in National Public Lands Day by educating the public, building partnerships and improving public lands for outdoor recreation.

Fees will be charged at most state parks, but can be waived if people contact parks to volunteer.

* A grand opening celebration for the Clallam County Family YMCA, 302 S. Francis St., Port Angeles, is set for Saturday between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

The event will include a ceremony with a ribbon cutting, raffles, tours, an art sampler, contests and blood pressure and cholesterol checks.

* Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary scientists will share the results of a nine-day research expedition during an open house Sunday.

The free open house will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at City Pier in Port Angeles and will include tours of the MV Auriga research ship, educational displays, posters, videos of the exploration, displays of organisms collected and the opportunity to talk to scientists.

* A self-guided tour of artists’ studios in the Port Angeles area is set for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Artists will demonstrate techniques and discuss their artistic visions. The event is sponsored by the American Association of University Women Clallam Branch to benefit scholarships for young women.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and are being sold at bookstores.

See a schedule of events on Page 7 of Peninsula Spotlight in today’s Peninsula Daily News.

* Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society will have a work party from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday to landscape and maintain buildings at Railroad Bridge Park, 2151 W. Hendrickson Road, Sequim.

More in News

From left to right are Indigo Gould, Hazel Windstorm, Eli Hill, Stuart Dow, Mateu Yearian and Hugh Wentzel.
Port Townsend Knowledge Bowl team wins consecutive state championships

The Knowledge Bowl team from Port Townsend High School has… Continue reading

Bob Edgington of 2 Grade LLC excavating, which donated its resources, pulls dirt from around the base of an orca sculpture at the Dream Playground at Erickson Playfield on Thursday during site preparation to rebuild the Port Angeles play facility, which was partially destroyed by an arson fire on Dec. 20. A community build for the replacement playground is scheduled for May 15-19 with numerous volunteer slots available. Signups are available at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904084DA4AC23A5F85-47934048-dream#/. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Site preparation at Dream Playground

Bob Edgington of 2 Grade LLC excavating, which donated its resources, pulls… Continue reading

Rayonier Inc. is selling more than 115,000 acres in four units across the West Olympic Peninsula last week as the company looks to sell $1 billion worth of assets. (Courtesy photo / Rayonier Inc.)
Rayonier to sell West End timberland

Plans call for debt restructuring; bids due in June

Port Angeles port approves contract for Maritime Trade Center bid

Utilities installation, paving part of project at 18-acre site

Port Angeles to hire personnel to operate day ambulance

The Port Angeles Fire Department will be able to… Continue reading

Port Angeles City Hall parking lot closed for construction

Work crews from Bruch and Bruch Construction, Inc. will… Continue reading

Teen photo contest open for submissions

The Jefferson County Library is accepting submissions for Teen… Continue reading

Letters of inquiry for grant cycle due May 15

The Olympic View Community Foundation and the Seattle Foundation will… Continue reading

Amy DeQuay of Port Angeles, right, signs up for information at a table staffed by Christopher Allen and Mary Sue French of the Port Angeles Arts Council during a Volunteer Fair on Wednesday at Vern Burton Community Center in Port Angeles. The event, organized by the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce, brought together numerous North Olympic Peninsula agencies that offer people a chance to get involved in their communities. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Volunteer fair in Port Angeles

Amy DeQuay of Port Angeles, right, signs up for information at a… Continue reading

Luncheon to raise funds for women with cancer

The Kathleen Sutton Fund will host its third spring… Continue reading

Among those volunteering are rowers from Port Townsend, Port Angeles and Sequim. Pictured from left to right are WendyRae Johnson of Port Angeles; Gail Clark and Lynn Gilles, both of Sequim, Jean Heessels-Petit of Sequim; Christi Jolly, Dennis Miller, Carolyn DeSalvo and Frank DeSalvo, all of Sequim; and Rudy Heessels, Amy Holms and Guy Lawrence, all of Sequim.
Sequim Bay Yacht Club to host opening day ceremonies

The Sequim Bay Yacht Club will host free boat rides… Continue reading

Serve Washington presented service award

Serve Washington presented its Washington State Volunteer Service Award to… Continue reading