Loggers, cranberries, mushrooms,
Irish music feted at festivals
STORY BY GAIL GREENWOOD AYERS
Early autumn in Grays Harbor is typically some of the nicest weather we get and an opportunity to celebrate our area’s history and unique offerings. Thanks to many busy volunteers, here are a few of the Harbor festivals offered this fall.
Hoquiam Loggers' Playday
September 6 • Hoquiam
Like a living time capsule celebrating hard-working loggers, the Hoquiam Loggers' Playday field show features talent of local and professional timber sports athletes vying to become “the Bull of the Woods.” The tests of strength and skill include axe throwing, choker setting, double hand bucking, hot saw, log chop, speed climb, spring board chop and more.
In addition, the 6 p.m. show includes a log rolling exhibition and other entertainment. It all takes place at Olympic Stadium, 2811 Cherry St. To attend the show, a Loggers’ Playday button is needed. They cost $3 or $5 and can be purchased at local stores, from the Hoquiam Loggers' Playday Court members or at the door.
While the logging show is the highlight of the evening, the festival is packed with activities from dawn to midnight. The Hoquiam Rotary Club hosts a pancake breakfast starting at 6 a.m. at Our Lady of Good Hope Catholic Church. The Elks Grand Parade starts at noon in downtown Hoquiam. The Hoquiam Lions Club Salmon Bake begins at 2 p.m. at the old Washington Elementary School.
In the evening, after the logging competition, there’s even a dance starting at 9 p.m. at the Hoquiam Elks Club. This year the dance will feature music performed by Joker’s Wild. The dance is for anyone 21 and older and requires a $10 cover charge.
For more information, visit sites.google.com/view/hoquiamloggersplayday.
Quinault Rainforest
Mushroom Festival
October 4 • Amanda Park
Headquartered at Lake Quinault School, the free-to-attend Quinault Rainforest Mushroom Festival is set from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 4. Attendees can peruse the various mushroom merchants, learn from educational talks, explore the kid zone with fungi activities and sample the food vendors’ wares.
At 11:30 a.m. keynote speaker Noah Siegel will present “Cascadia – a Fungal Paradise.” Additional speakers include Aaron Hilliard, Daniel Winkler and Rose Tursi. Workshops include the topics of culinary, cultivation, mushroom dye, tinctures and forest bathing.
For a fee, festivalgoers can register to forage in the Quinault Rainforest with regional experts and members of the Coastal Shores and Spores Mycological Society of Grays Harbor.
For festival schedule and registration, go to shoresandspores.com/qrmushfest.
Cranberry Harvest Festival
October 10, 11, 12 • Grayland
Sponsored by the Westport/Grayland Chamber of Commerce, the 32nd Annual Cranberry Harvest Festival is set for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 11 and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 12. Vendors and live music are headquartered at the Grayland Community Hall. 2071 Cranberry Road.
But, for those who want to enter the Cranberry Cook-off, the entries are due at the Community Hall between noon and 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10. The rules and categories for the cookoff are available online.
The Firefly Parade begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday night. The Cranberry Festival also includes a pancake breakfast and 10K jog, 5K jog and 3K walk. For more information, go to westportgraylandchamber.org/cranberry-harvest-festival.
Galway Bay Celtic Music Feis
Oct. 13 – Oct. 19 • Ocean Shores
For the 22nd year, Galway Bay’s Celtic Music Feis is welcoming musicians from near and far to Ocean Shores to celebrate all things Irish. This year the festival is from Tuesday, Oct. 13 through Sunday, Oct. 19.
During these six days, an eclectic mix of Irish bands, choirs and dancers will come from throughout the United States, Canada and, of course, Ireland to perform on 10 stages located at three venues including at the Ocean Shores Convention Center and the Galway Bay Irish Pub, 880 Point Brown Ave NE.
For more information about the lineup and to purchase tickets, visit www.celticmusicfeis.com. Additional information can be found on Facebook at GalwayBayIrishPubOS.
September 6 • Hoquiam
Like a living time capsule celebrating hard-working loggers, the Hoquiam Loggers' Playday field show features talent of local and professional timber sports athletes vying to become “the Bull of the Woods.” The tests of strength and skill include axe throwing, choker setting, double hand bucking, hot saw, log chop, speed climb, spring board chop and more.
In addition, the 6 p.m. show includes a log rolling exhibition and other entertainment. It all takes place at Olympic Stadium, 2811 Cherry St. To attend the show, a Loggers’ Playday button is needed. They cost $3 or $5 and can be purchased at local stores, from the Hoquiam Loggers' Playday Court members or at the door.
While the logging show is the highlight of the evening, the festival is packed with activities from dawn to midnight. The Hoquiam Rotary Club hosts a pancake breakfast starting at 6 a.m. at Our Lady of Good Hope Catholic Church. The Elks Grand Parade starts at noon in downtown Hoquiam. The Hoquiam Lions Club Salmon Bake begins at 2 p.m. at the old Washington Elementary School.
In the evening, after the logging competition, there’s even a dance starting at 9 p.m. at the Hoquiam Elks Club. This year the dance will feature music performed by Joker’s Wild. The dance is for anyone 21 and older and requires a $10 cover charge.
For more information, visit sites.google.com/view/hoquiamloggersplayday.
Quinault Rainforest
Mushroom Festival
October 4 • Amanda Park
Headquartered at Lake Quinault School, the free-to-attend Quinault Rainforest Mushroom Festival is set from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 4. Attendees can peruse the various mushroom merchants, learn from educational talks, explore the kid zone with fungi activities and sample the food vendors’ wares.
At 11:30 a.m. keynote speaker Noah Siegel will present “Cascadia – a Fungal Paradise.” Additional speakers include Aaron Hilliard, Daniel Winkler and Rose Tursi. Workshops include the topics of culinary, cultivation, mushroom dye, tinctures and forest bathing.
For a fee, festivalgoers can register to forage in the Quinault Rainforest with regional experts and members of the Coastal Shores and Spores Mycological Society of Grays Harbor.
For festival schedule and registration, go to shoresandspores.com/qrmushfest.
Cranberry Harvest Festival
October 10, 11, 12 • Grayland
Sponsored by the Westport/Grayland Chamber of Commerce, the 32nd Annual Cranberry Harvest Festival is set for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 11 and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 12. Vendors and live music are headquartered at the Grayland Community Hall. 2071 Cranberry Road.
But, for those who want to enter the Cranberry Cook-off, the entries are due at the Community Hall between noon and 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10. The rules and categories for the cookoff are available online.
The Firefly Parade begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday night. The Cranberry Festival also includes a pancake breakfast and 10K jog, 5K jog and 3K walk. For more information, go to westportgraylandchamber.org/cranberry-harvest-festival.
Galway Bay Celtic Music Feis
Oct. 13 – Oct. 19 • Ocean Shores
For the 22nd year, Galway Bay’s Celtic Music Feis is welcoming musicians from near and far to Ocean Shores to celebrate all things Irish. This year the festival is from Tuesday, Oct. 13 through Sunday, Oct. 19.
During these six days, an eclectic mix of Irish bands, choirs and dancers will come from throughout the United States, Canada and, of course, Ireland to perform on 10 stages located at three venues including at the Ocean Shores Convention Center and the Galway Bay Irish Pub, 880 Point Brown Ave NE.
For more information about the lineup and to purchase tickets, visit www.celticmusicfeis.com. Additional information can be found on Facebook at GalwayBayIrishPubOS.