QUILCENE — A parade, car show, belt sander races, an antler show, vendors, food and a carnival will be featured at the 26th annual Fair and Parade today through Sunday.
A carnival starting at 3 p.m. today will kick off the fair at the Quilcene School parking lot at 294715 U.S. Highway 101 in downtown Quilcene.
The carnival will continue until 10 p.m. Rides also will be in motion from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $15 per person.
But the big day will be Saturday, said Lisa Hames, president of the fair.
“We’ve got the carnival, the fun run, the car show, food shops, quilt show and live music,” Hames said.
“And of course, we have the parade through the town at 11 a.m.”
Saturday will begin with a pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the school, followed by the Ranger Fun Run beginning at 9 a.m.
Food and crafts vendors will operate there from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Parade dignitaries
The parade will begin at U.S. Bank, 14890 Center Road and travel down U.S. Highway 101 past the school to the community center.
“Something fun we are doing this time is seeking tourists of the day,” Hames said.
“We will have people with signs asking motorists driving through to stop and tell us where they are from.
“If they pull over and talk, and if they are from over 100 miles away, then we will give them a sash making them ‘Tourists of the Day’ and let them be part of the parade.”
The grand marshal for the parade, which has the theme “Rods, Rides & Races,” is Moe Moser, interim fire chief for the Quilcene Volunteer Fire Department.
Among the dignitaries are Citizen of the Year Lori Millard, a gardener and landscaper who volunteers for the Quilcene Museum as well as the annual fair and parade.
The King and Queen this year are Ken and Peggy Dressler, who volunteer their time to church and community activities while raising four children. Ken Dressler is self-employed in marine repairs, while his wife works for the U.S. Forest Service.
The Pioneer Citizen honored this year is Kay Anderson, a member of the pioneer Hart family. She has written several family histories and is a founding member and donor to the Quilcene Museum.
The Teacher of the Year is Darlene Apeland, who was in January given an award as a “teacher of excellence” by the Washington State Association of Head Start and Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program. Apeland teaches pre-kindergarten children.
Teen citizens are the Quilcene High School Associated Student Body officers for the 2009-2010 school year.
They are Jake Nasrallah, president; Sarah Bacchus, vice-president; Leslie Thompson, secretary; Jamie Joyce, treasurer, Tawnya Turley, assistant treasurer; and Amy Kaiser, parliamentarian. The advisor is Tammy Thompson.
Doris Bogachus, who moved from Quilcene several years ago, will join the parade as a special guest, the Most Missed Citizen.
After the parade, at 12:45 p.m., a community photograph will be taken at the Quilcene School football field.
The Antique Vehicles and South County Cruisers Classic Car Show, which includes a variety of vendors, will serve as a backdrop for the community photograph.
The show will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A “burn-out” exhibition will begin at 3 p.m.
Antler Show
A new addition this year, the Antler Show will allow hunters to show off their trophies and tell stories from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Music will begin at 12:30 p.m. with Locust Street Taxi and Franco Bertucci & Band.
Belt Sander Races will take place from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
“It’s a weekend full of free entertainment and good food, with a small town atmosphere,” Hames said.
“There is a lot of variety and lots of things to do.”
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Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com