The Five Star Dealerships Sand & Sawdust Festival will have a few changes this year, and you can get an early preview of the celebration of beach and timber art at a new website — www.sandandsawdust.org.

The Ocean Shores/North Beach Chamber of Commerce has secured sponsorships this year in longtime returning sponsor Five Star Dealerships (Title sponsor), Quinault Beach Resort & Casino (Platinum sponsor), Oyhut Bay, Bennett’s Fish Shack, Makita chainsaws, and The Daily World/North Coast News (Gold sponsorships). It also has hired an outside executive producer, Scott Nagel, to help with planning and promotion this year for the first time.

“The Chamber of Commerce is committed to quality events and programs for the local community and tourists in order to enrich coastal lives and experiences. Additionally, with our new website as a base of operations, we will use local media, social media, and print materials to establish a regional marketing program aimed at bringing more visitors to the Ocean Shores Sand & Sawdust Festival, to Ocean Shores and to all of Grays Harbor County,” a press release said.

Some of the featured artists include Bob King from Edgewood, WA, who has been honored with a star in the Carvers Walks of Fame in MJulda, Germany, for winning more competitions than anyone in the world. Also, of local note, Justin the Circler will be providing lessons and demonstrations in his unique brand of geometric sand art. Also, new this year will be an expanded food booth program with 10 restaurants from around the state, along with a rock wall for climbing and a “quick carve” sand castle contest. Five Star Dealerships Sand & Sawdust is June 22-24:.

This weekend

The biggest Flag Day Parade in Western Washington takes place Saturday Feb. 9 through downtown Ocean Shores, starting at the city gates at about 11 a.m. and ending at the Convention Center. This year, the parade is being organized and sponsored by the Elks Lodge.

June

15: Seabrook is hosting an advanced beach volleyball competition. The AVA Beach Volleyball tournament draws talented applicants from Vancouver and across the U.S. to play for a chance to win $2,000 in either the Men’s or Women’s Open Winners tournament, with a total grand prize of$10,000 for the competing adult divisions. Entry is open to anyone of any skill level to join and form a team, and there will be clinics with professional coaches available. All junior and adult levels can compete for this cash pool, regardless of experience. Men’s and Women’s A and Masters (ages 35+) have a chance to win a cash payout along with the $10,000 total prize money for competing adult divisions. For more information about AVA, visit http://www.alkibeachvolleyball.com/

15-23: Quinault Beach Resort & Casino’s 18th anniversary celebration begins, along with the annual Cooking the Blues festival extending through the week with live blues music daily and the finale of Williams and Ree Comedy Show on June 23.

22: Official ribbon cutting ceremony, including a traditional Quinault blessing, for the opening of the Quinault Beach Resort & Casino expansion. Festivities start at 3 p.m.

22-24: Five Star Dealerships Sand & Sawdust Festival, at the Ocean Shores Convention Center. Sand sculpting demonstrations and chainsaw artist auctions daily.

July

27-29: Bikers at the Beach motorcycle event at the Ocean Shores Convention Center, with Hog Wild Weekend also ongoing simultaneously at Quinault Beach Resort and Casino.

August

11: Ocean Shores Woof-a-Thon. Annual event honoring our pets and raising funds and awareness for animal welfare. At North Bay High School with dog walk on the track Games, sporting events and demonstrations, and auction. Online at www.oceanshoreswoofathon.org.

11-12: Body and Soul Festival. Learn all about a natural and homeopathic way of life. At the OceanShores Lions Club on Ocean Shores Boulevard.

17-19: Ocean Shores Fan Fest & Beach Party, with events planned for Quinault Beach Resort &Casino, Oyhut Bay and the Ocean Shores Convention Center.

18: Gnome & Fairy Festival at Seabrook. A day of enchantment and outdoor play for the whole family, face painting, games, crafts and live animal encounters. Starts at 11 a.m.

Aug. 31-Sept. 2: AAOS Arts & Crafts Festival at the Convention Center: www.associatedarts.org.Visit one of Western Washington’s largest indoor and outdoor handmade arts and crafts fair.Thousand of unique items are showcased by gifted artists and talented craftspeople. Admission is free.

Aug. 31-Sept. 2: Annual Kelpers Festival and Shake Rat Rendezvous, featuring tug of war competition between Moclips and Pacific Beach, kid’s parade, full parade in Pacific Beach on Sunday, and various logging competitions.

September

1: Ocean Shores Paddleathon. Saturday, Sept. 1. Oyhut Bay Seaside Village Canal. For kayak, canoe,and rowing enthusiasts. All Skill levels are welcome. Human-powered boat activities on the lakes and canals of Ocean Shores. Race, Poker Paddle, picnic, seminars and the latest in paddling gear at end-of-season prices.

21-23: Whale of Quilt Show at the Ocean Shores Convention Center, (509) 715-9082 for information.

October

6: Big Foot Brew Festival at Seabrook, for craft beer enthusiasts, with some of the regions’ best breweries featured from noon to 5 p.m.

16-21: Irish Music Festival. The West Coast’s largest Irish music festival: 6 stages, 3 venues,including Galway Bay and the Convention Center in Ocean Shores, and 30 great bands. Come tip a pint and kick up your heels. For more information and a schedule visit www.galwaybayevents.com

November

3-4: Run From the Rain Indoor Kite Fly in Ocean Shores, sponsored by Ocean Shores Kites(oceanshoreskites.com). Call (360) 289-4103 for more information.

23-25: Winter Fanta-Sea pre-Christmas festival of holiday gifts and vendors, Ocean Shores Convention Center, (360) 289-9586.