Eventful 2017 already filling fast for Convention Center

By Scott D. Johnston

For North Coast News

The 2017 calendar already looks busy at the Ocean Shores Convention Center, where the facility’s seasoned crew has been planning for a lot of favorite annual events, others that return every few years on a rotating basis, and several interesting newcomers.

Presented by Convention Center General Manager Cheryl Turner at the Ocean Shores City Council meeting Nov. 14, next year’s calendar lists more than 200 event use days, which includes move-in and move-out activities as well as days and nights during which events take place.

Turner told the Council that, even using very conservative estimates of visitor spending of $100 per day for overnight guests and only $50 for day visitors, Convention Center events represent more than $10 million annually coming into the Ocean Shores area. She cited the availability of just one weekend during the summer next year as additional evidence of the venue’s perennial heavy use.

Turner pointed out that the Convention Center also serves as a convenient site for a number of events of primarily local interest. These include fund-raisers for area non-profits such as PAWS, Ocean Shores Food Bank, Museum of the North Beach, the local Chamber of Commerce, the Kiwanis Club, the Ocean Shores Firefighters Association, and others.

Additional events of mainly local interest include North Beach High School Career Day, and Halloween and Christmas parties for area kids. The City itself is a frequent user with monthly Municipal Court sessions, usually the third Wednesday of the month, and City Council meetings the second and fourth Mondays of each month.

A veteran of 45 years in the hospitality industry, Turner has been at the helm of the Convention Center since 2011. Her lean crew handles all aspects of event servicing. All perform a wide variety of functions, but each also has an area of specialization. Graham Davies and Greg Marshall are audio-visual and WiFi experts. J. Mull is the center’s mechanical specialist. George Lee is the authority on food and beverage services and also operates the 4 Any Occasion catering company. Cathie Parker runs the Visitors Information Center in the Convention Center and Jo Reed mans that desk on weekends.

Turner noted that, although the organizers of events – the tenants at the Convention Center – have a wide range of choices for event related services and amenities; she always encourages them to utilize local businesses. She believes many event producers appreciate the formula of offering a “one-stop shopping service” to assist them in easily creating enjoyable and memorable experiences for their attendees by involving local resources.

All of 2016’s major public events are returning to the Convention Center next year. Events whose rotating schedules bring them back to Ocean Shores in 2017 include an EMS conference in February, TOPS and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation in May, the Washington State Grange for a week in June, and others.

Among the new events is a “teaching conference” that will bring 250 visitors with the Northwest Meat Processors in March. In October, a national bloodhounds competition will use the Convention Center and other locations in Ocean Shores for a three-day event.

Schedule of Events

Jan. 27-29 – Roanoke Conference, a Washington Republicans event, registration is required.

Feb. 10-12 – Renewed Antique Show.

March 4-5 – Beachcombers’ Fun Fair.

March 17-19 – Razor Clam Festival & Seafood Extravaganza.

April 1 – Ocean Shores Food Bank “Blue Hawaii” Dinner and Concert Fund-Raiser with Danny Vernon’s Illusion of Elvis.

April 21-23 – AAOS Fine Arts, Photography and Electronic Media Show.

May 13-14 – Shoppin’ at the Shore.

May 26-28 – Grays Harbor Expo.

June 3 – Wearable Art Show.

June 10 – Flag Day Parade.

June 23-25 – Sand and Sawdust Festival.