The Grays Harbor Expo at the Ocean Shores Convention Center marks the unofficial start of summer at the beach this weekend, with opening day Friday, 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. Saturday hours are 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. and the final day is Sunday, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Around 100 vendors and exhibitors will fill the Convention Center and its main parking lot on Chance a La Mer.
The Grays Harbor Home Show has always been the core content of the event, with businesses such as Levee Lumber, a major sponsor and exhibitor for all 10 years, showcasing the latest in home decor and home improvement ideas. A lot of additional elements have been added as the event has grown from about 300 attendees a decade ago to over 6,000 on a rainy weekend last year.
Memorial Day Weekend is an obvious time to honor veterans, and members of North Beach VFW Post 8956 will once again take the point on Saturday, beginning at 11:30 a.m. with an outdoor flag raising ceremony.
Inside the Convention Center at 12 noon, they will do a Fallen Soldier Ceremony, where Purple Heart recipients will be honored and the names of fallen soldiers will be read.
Post Commander John Link said anyone wishing to have a name read or otherwise interested in participating should call the post and leave a message at 360-591-7595.
The “Roadside Chainsaw Carvers” will be active in the parking lot, where their artistry will be auctioned Saturday and Sunday. The bidding follows another popular event that was added a few years back, the Ice Carving Competitions, at 3 p.m. both days.
Also part of the Expo are an art show that features Northwest artists not usually seen here, and a custom car show produced by the Bracketstars Hot Rod Association from Enumclaw. A huge outdoor slide, pony rides, and several food vendors round out the activities and attractions.
The event is produced by Puget Sound Trade Shows and Events. The company has offices in Puyallup and is owned by Dennis Irby, who is an Ocean Shores homeowner. They also produce the Bikers at the Beach event, set for July 28-30 at the Convention Center.
More information can be found online at www.graysharborexpo.com
Stage West Theatre
The new production is The Savannah Sipping Society,directed by Lori Hardin with assistant director Karin Noble, and features performances by Stacy Steele, Anna Frazier, Julie Opel, and Pamela Nygaard. Performances are Friday, May 26, Saturday, May 27, and Sunday, May 28 on the Ocean Shores Lions Club stage. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and are available at Dolores & Faye’s, Mocha Madness, Ocean Shores Animal Hospital, Ocean Shores Convention Visitor’s Center, and at the door.
June
3: Wearable Art Show at the Ocean Shores Convention Center, www.oswearableart.com.
3-4: Festival of Colors kite flying weekend on the beach at Ocean Shores. Call (360) 289-4103 for more information.
3: 2017 Hood To Coast Washington (new event). Seabrook will be hosting the ending ceremonies for this inaugural running team relay event that sold out the first day of registration. Hood to Coast Washington will span 77 miles through the Evergreen State, beginning from Hood Canal and ending at the Pacific Ocean.
This one-day, one-van, six- member race will be a mostly flat, fast, and friendly journey from Lake Isabella State Park, through the Olympic National Forest, along the Chehalis River and Grays Harbor, and eventually ending at the coastal community of Seabrook.
10: Flag Day Parade, through downtown Ocean Shores, starting at the city gates and ending at the Convention Center. Biggest Flag Day parade in Western Washington, (360) 289-2314 to participate or register.
16-18: Seabrook will be the site of the second annual l Beach Volleyball Tournament hosted by the Alki Volleyball Association on June 16-18. Watch juniors, amateurs, and pros play for prize money. Also a beginner’s fours tournament for charity. http://www.seabrookwa.com/events
23-25: Sand & Sawdust Festival, at the Ocean Shores Convention Center and on the main Ocean Shores Beach south of Chance a la Mer beach approach. Sand sculpting competition and chainsaw artist auctions daily. (360)289-2451.
July
7-9: Ocean Shores Beach Blast, with beach volleyball tournament planned at the beach south of Chance a la Mer beach approach, www.oceanshoresbeachblast.com.
28-30: Bikers at the Beach, www.bikersatthebeach.com, motorcycle event at the Ocean Shores Convention Center, with Hog Wild Weekend also ongoing simultaneously at Quinault Beach Resort and Casino.
August
12: Ocean Shores Woof-a-Thon. Annual event honoring our pets and raising funds and awareness for animal welfare. At North Bay Park, with dog walk through the neighborhood. Online at www.oceanshoreswoofathon.org.
18-20: 12’s Fan Fest and Beach Party in Ocean Shores, with events at the Convention Center, around town and at Quinault Beach Resort & Casino. Largest preseason gathering of Seahawks fans, www.12sfanfest.com.
26-27: Find Your Treasure Gift Fair (new event). At the Ocean Shores Convention Center, gpsdirectsellersnetwork@gmail.com.
September
1-3: AAOS Arts & Crafts Festival at the Ocean Shores Convention Center, www.associatedarts.org.
1-3: 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.
15-17: Whale of Quilt Show at the Ocean Shores Convention Center, (509) 715-9082 for information.
October
25-29: Irish Music Festival, centered at Galway Bay and the Ocean Shores Convention Center, www.galwaybacyirishpub.com.
November
24-26: Winter Fanta-Sea pre-Christmas festival of holiday gifts and vendors, Ocean Shores Convention Center, (360) 289-9586.
Editor’s note: If you have events or items that you would like to add to the Coast Calendar, please send them via email in a word document along with any photo attachments to editor@northcoastnews.com
