MARROWSTONE ISLAND — Shellfish will be celebrated day and night during the Centennial 2013 ShellFest at Fort Flagler State Park on Marrowstone Island on Saturday.
The ShellFest is one of many events around the state marking the 100th year of the existence of the state parks system, which was established March 19, 1913.
ShellFest daytime activities are set for 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the park at 10541 Flagler Road, Nordland.
An evening concert featuring Chantilly Lace is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday at the Battery Bankhead at Fort Flagler.
Admission to the daytime celebration is free. Admission to the concert is $8 for adults and free for children younger than 13. A Discover Pass is required for vehicle access to the park.
Exhibits, guided walk
The daytime celebration will feature exhibits, a guided interpretive low-tide walk, food, hands-on children’s activities and educational information about restoring and protecting shellfish beds in Puget Sound as part of the Shellfish Initiative.
Makah tribal members will present a welcoming ceremony, dances and storytelling. Traditional native fry bread will be available for purchase.
Lunch will be provided by Shina Wysocki of Chelsea Farms LLC of Olympia in partnership with Taylor Shellfish Farms of Shelton.
Lunch is free, but a donation of $5 per person or $15 per family is suggested. Proceeds will go to the Washington State Parks Foundation and Friends of Fort Flagler.
Evening concert
At the evening concert, Chantilly Lace will perform from the band’s repertoire of oldies rock and roll, rockabilly, country rock, blues and classic rock, with songs spanning 50 years.
They also perform original music with a 1950s and ’60s flavor.
The celebration is hosted by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission; the Washington State Parks Foundation, a nonprofit that funds state park improvements and programs; and Friends of Fort Flagler State Park.
Other sponsors include the state Department of Health, Washington BEACH Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Pacific Shellfish Growers Association, Washington Sea Grant, “Pump Don’t Dump” program, Northwest National Wildlife Federation, Washington State University, Jefferson County Beach Watchers and Jefferson County Marine Resources Committee.
Shellfish are a significant recreational, commercial and tribal resource and help define Washington’s cultural and culinary identity.
Event sponsors all have a role in protecting and preserving shellfish — which is a recreational, commercial and tribal resource — through Puget Sound cleanup efforts.
For more information about the festival, visit www.wspf.org, www.flaglerflashes.blogspot.com or www.parks.wa.gov/events.
For information about the concert, phone Fort Flagler State Park at 360-385-1259.
For more about the Discover Pass, visit www.discoverpass.wa.gov.