FORKS — The West End community celebrates its heritage — and a favorite form of apparel — when it begins its annual weeklong Hickory Shirt/Heritage Days celebration today.
This year’s theme is “Women of the West End,” and events between now and Oct. 7 will include homage to the women past and present who have built Forks and the West End.
Included are the Little Logger contest, the Shipwreck Symposium, evening programs on local history and culture.
The Old Timers’ Roundtable” for storytelling about Forks’ past is always a popular feature — as is the annual Fish and Brew Contest with samples and prizes.
Hickory Shirt/Heritage Days is organized by the city of Forks and the West End Business Association.
Here is the schedule of events:
Today, Sept. 29
On kickoff day, “everyone wear a hickory shirt,” urges Forks city events coordinator Pat Soderlind.
“Decorate them! Paint them! Jazz them up or wear them plain — just wear them today!”
9 a.m.: Forks Logging and Mill Tours. Reservations suggested. Contact the Forks Visitor Center at 360-374-2531 for details and information.
10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Heritage Days “Women of The West End” artist displays and demonstrations. West Wind Gallery, 120 Sol Duc Way.
5:30-7:30 p.m.: Sue Zalokar and Sarah Grafstrom live musical performance at A Work in Progress and Café, 71 N. Forks Ave.
Saturday, Sept. 30
6:30 a.m.-4 p.m.: LaPush Last Chance Salmon Derby. $4,300 cash prizes, $1,000 each for top coho and chinook. Tickets available at Forks Outfitters and Olympic Sporting Goods in Forks, Swain’s General Store in Port Angeles and Quileute Marina in LaPush.
10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Hickory Shirt Days at the Market-Transit Center, downtown Forks.
10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Senior Parent Safe Night Bake Sale at Forks Outfitters, 950 S. Forks Ave.
10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Heritage Days “Women of the West End” artist displays, demonstrations and silent auction. West Wind Gallery, 120 Sol Duc Way.
11 a.m.-2 p.m.: Forks Community Hospital Health Fair, “Under The Big Top.” Forks Community Hospital, 530 Bogachiel Way.
5 p.m.: Little Logger Contest, Forks Outfitters, 950 S. Forks Ave.
Categories for 6 years and younger and 7-12 years. Prizes will be awarded for best costumes and participation in all age categories.
7 p.m.: High Divide, Minnie Petersen Mountain Adventures Presentation, Department of Natural Resources Conference Center, 411 Trillium Lane.
Sunday, Oct. 1
6:30 a.m.-4 p.m.: LaPush Last Chance Salmon Derby continues (see Saturday, Oct. 1, listing).
Monday, Oct. 2
9 a.m.: Forks Logging and Mill Tours (see listing under Friday, Sept. 29).
10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Heritage Days “Women of The West End” artist displays and demonstrations. West Wind Gallery, 120 Sol Duc Way.
2 p.m.-7 p.m.: Friends of the Forks Library book sale, “Books . . . Our Link to the Past,” at the Forks Library, 171 S. Forks Ave. Readings from classic books by John Barrett.
5:30 p.m.: “Run To Higher Ground” video presentation by storyteller Vi Reibe. The video tells the Hoh story of an ancient tsunami and offers tips for tsunami preparedness.
Tuesday, Oct. 3
10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Heritage Days “Women of The West End” artist displays and demonstrations, West Wind Gallery, 120 Sol Duc Way.
4 p.m.-6 p.m.: Local author Chiggers Stokes will be signing and reading excerpts from two books, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Two and Between Forks and Alpha Centauri.
Wednesday, Oct. 4
7:30 a.m.: West End Business and Professional Association “Pioneer Award” and breakfast meeting, the In Place, 320 S. Forks Ave.
9 a.m.: Forks Logging and Mill Tours (see listing under Friday, Sept. 29).
10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Heritage Days “Women of the West End” artist displays and demonstrations, West Wind Gallery, 120 Sol Duc Way.
6:30 p.m.: Old Timers Roundtable on “Women of the West End.” Refreshments and mingle from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., then roundtable discussion begins at 7 p.m. Bank of America, 481 S. Forks Ave.
Thursday, Oct. 5
10 a.m.-5 p.m.: “Women of the West End” artist displays and demonstrations, West Wind Gallery, 120 Sol Duc Way.
6-7 p.m.: Heritage Days musical presentation by the Forks Community Orchestra at Forks Library, 171 S. Forks Ave.
5 p.m.-7 p.m.: Community Museum kickoff, reception and online Web site presentations. Olympic Natural Resource Center, Hemlock Forest Room, 1455 S. Forks Ave.
Friday, Oct. 6
9 a.m.: Forks Logging and Mill Tours (see listing under Friday, Sept. 29).
10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Heritage Days “Women of the West End” artist displays and demonstrations, West Wind Gallery, 120 Sol Duc Way.
Saturday, Oct. 7
10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Cultural Cooking Exchange, Forks Senior Center, 651 E. Division St. Hands-on cooking preparing diverse traditional foods.
10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Bogachiel Garden Club annual fall plant sale, Transit Center, 120 E. E St.
10 a.m.-3 p.m.: Friends of Forks Animals annual rummage and bake sale, VFW Hall, 110 S. Spartan Ave.
10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Heritage Days “Women of the West End” artist displays, demonstrations and silent auction, West Wind Gallery, 120 Sol Duc Way.
1 p.m.-4 p.m.: Annual Fish and Brew Contest, Huckleberry Lodge, 1171 Big Pine Lane. Homemade apple cider, root beer, smoked fish, music and home brew.
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For more information on the Hickory Shirt/Heritage Days schedule of events, contact Pat Soderlind, events coordinator, city of Forks, 360-374-5412, Ext. 263, or e-mail psod.forks@centurytel.net.