EDITOR’S NOTE: For more on the musical lineup at the Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts this weekend, see today’s Peninsula Spotlight, the Peninsula Daily News’ weekly magazine included with today’s PDN.
NOTE: “Today” and “tonight” refer to Friday, May 27.
PORT ANGELES — The 23rd annual Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts will present a smorgasbord of music during four days this weekend — but that isn’t all it has to offer.
Ballet, a free street fair and children’s activities are also on the menu during the four-day festival that begins today and runs through Monday at venues throughout Port Angeles.
Ballet Victoria
Ballet Victoria will perform the “Best of Ballet Victoria” at noon Saturday and Sunday at the Elks Naval Lodge Ballroom Stage at 131 E. First St.
The troupe, based in Victoria, includes 13 professional dancers and apprentices who train and rehearse original works under the direction of Paul Destrooper.
Tickets will be $35 at the door both days and include access to the ballet performance and all other festival performances.
Children 12 and younger will be admitted free.
Street Fair
The colorful Juan de Fuca Festival Street Fair is a highlight of the Memorial Day weekend celebration, organizers said, describing it as a “garden of earthly delights” with more than 60 food, artisan and craft booths.
The fair will be at the Vern Burton Community Center parking lot and grassy area at 308 E. Fourth St.
Fourth Street will be blocked off for the event, organizers said.
The street fair will be free to the public. It will be open from noon to 7 p.m. today through Sunday and from noon to 4:30 p.m. Monday.
“This is a hugely popular part of our festival and a great way for the community to come together,” said Dan Maguire, executive director of the Juan de Fuca Foundation for the Arts, the nonprofit organization producing the festival.
A big festival favorite is the beer garden sponsored by Deschutes Brewery, Maguire said.
Live entertainment
Performing free at the street fair will be the Five Acre Soundwaves Marimba Band and an open-mic session led by Vicki Helwick.
Soundwaves will perform at 4:30 p.m. today and at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.
The band is composed of third-through-eighth-grade students attending the private Five Acre School of Sequim.
The students perform on marimbas, a deep-toned xylophone of African origin.
Helwick, a seventh-grade language arts teacher at Sequim Middle School, will take the stage from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Helwick invites the public to bring their voices and instruments to the open-mic session to make some music.
She was raised in Long Beach, Calif., and sang her first solo in church at the age of 5, she said.
She earned a Bachelor of Music in voice performance at California State University, Sacramento, and returned to school later to earn her teaching credentials.
She currently sings with Peninsula Singers.
Children’s activities
The street fair also includes entertainment for youngsters, Maguire said.
Sights and sounds include Henrik Bothe, who “walks around on ladders, spins ropes, juggles without using his hands, rides a too-high unicycle and even walks with four legs,” according to organizers.
Families with younger kids can check out Turtle Theatre, Maguire said.
The Turtle Tent can hold up to 50 small children for shows by Al “AlleyOop” Hirsch, Maguire said.
Four free shows will be offered at noon, 1:30 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.
During his performances, Hirsch tells stories; performs music on guitar, Appalachian dulcimer and baritone ukulele; and plays with puppets and whistles.
Hirsch said his act includes musical games and active playful songs that encourage children to dance and play along.
Hirsch is a two-time winner of the Parent’s Choice Award.
Live art
Talented artists will create original pieces during the festival.
The pieces will be inspired by the live performances.
Artists include Jeff Tocher, Mike Pace, Lynne Roberson, John Rickenbacher, Doug Parent, Sarah Tucker, Jeanette Painter and Craig Dills.
Workshop room
The Vern Burton Community Center workshop room will host a variety of activities including yoga and fishing for sea debris.
At 10:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, instructor Amelia Andaleon will host a yoga class open to people of all fitness levels.
Then at 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Limber for Lemurs will explore the wonders of lemurs through movement, storytelling and play.
And from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday, CoastSavers and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will man a “fishing wall” where kids — for $1 per turn — can cast a fishing line and collect beach debris they can turn into jewelry.
After-hours
“We also have an after-hours program where the music starts up again after the festival stages close,” Maguire said.
After-hours will be at Kokopelli Grill, 203 E. Front St., and The Metta Room, 132 E. Front St.
For more information, visit www.jffa.org.
________
Reporter Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56650, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
