By Scott D. Johnston
For Grays Harbor News Group
Thanksgiving is a time of traditions, and Ocean Shores has plenty to offer for the holiday — both old and new.
Turkey Bingo Nov. 22
It starts this Friday at the Ocean Shores Convention Center with one of the North Beach’s newer traditions, the Ocean Shores Firefighters Association’s annual fund-raiser — Turkey Bingo. Doors open at 5:15 and bingo starts at 6 p.m.
The event grew so quickly in its first few years that last year it moved into the Great Hall at the Convention Center. Once again, there are lots of turkeys, pies and trimmings to be won at this fun event, and proceeds go to help fund the scholarship program, Easter Egg Hunt and Kids Halloween Party that are done by the Firefighters Association each year. Bingo cards are $1 each and refreshments are available for purchase.
Food Bank holiday distribution
In addition to its normal free food distributions on the first and third Thursdays of each month, the Ocean Shores Food Bank, at 848 Anchor Ave. NW, is offering a special Thanksgiving holiday meal distribution on Tuesday from 1:30-5 p.m. The menu will include turkey, potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, yams, green beans, black olives, rolls, margarine, evaporated milk, pie shells and filling.
To help the Food Bank prepare the right quantities for the special Thanksgiving distribution, people are asked to sign up at the next regular distribution – Nov. 21, 1:30-5 p.m. or call the food bank at 360-289-2171 and leave a message with your name and phone number.
The Food Bank’s executive director, Sandra Harley, said a special thank-you is in order this year to Arrow Lumber for providing 200 turkeys and big bags of potatoes. She also noted that volunteers are needed for home deliveries for several Food Bank clients who cannot come to the distributions.
Once again, 1st Security Bank is holding its annual holiday food drive in all of its 21 Puget Sound branches, and the local Ocean Shores branch is participating this year and again donating both food and cash received to the Ocean Shores Food Bank The event runs through Dec. 31 and residents are encouraged to drop off food or cash donations at 1st Security Bank, 795 Point Brown Ave. NW.
Last week’s annual ladies’ night event at ACE Hardware, at 641 Point Brown Ave. NW, pulled in over a ton of non-perishable food items and almost $900 in donations, and through November, ACE is doing a “receipt round-up” donation program, all for the Food Bank.
Through Dec. 7, the Door Mouse Boutique, 849 Point Brown Ave. NW, will be decorating a very special Christmas tree with people’s donations of new gloves, mittens and hats for local children. The store will be collecting these items for distribution this holiday season at the Food Bank. Call 209-606-4239 for questions.
Lions Club free Thanksgiving dinner
This is the seventh year for a free Thanksgiving dinner at the Ocean Shores Lions Club, 832 Ocean Shores Blvd. NW. From 1-4 p.m. on Thanksgiving day. More than two dozen volunteers will serve over 300 people from a menu that includes turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, yams, rolls and a variety of desserts.
Those needing home delivery and anyone wishing to volunteer should call Ernie or Leona Nelson at 360-289-2314, or Sally Mapile at 360-940-7208.
Nelson, the Lions Club president, thanked “all the volunteers – boy, they just do a fabulous job! And we also have some great partners,” he continued, “like the Ocean Shores Elks, our local IGA, Quinault Beach Resort and Casino, Brookdale Senior Living, the North Beach Senior Center, Church of Latter Day Saints and Ocean Shores VFW.”
Winter Fanta-Sea
One of the oldest holiday traditions at the North Beach, the annual Winter Fanta-Sea Arts & Crafts Show, returns to the Ocean Shores Convention Center Thanksgiving weekend, running 12-5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1.
The curated arts and crafts show, held here for more than 30 years on the holiday weekend, is completely full, with more than 70 vendors offering unique, hand-crafted gifts, collectibles, tasty treats and more. Food and beverage service are available and Santa Claus will appear Saturday. There is no admission charge.
Holiday Tree Lighting
The newest Ocean Shores holiday tradition will begin Saturday, Nov. 30, as the Ocean Shores Convention Center presents a holiday tree-lighting event from 5-6 p.m.
The public is invited to listen to carolers, enjoy a cup of hot cocoa, let the kids visit with Santa and watch as an 18-foot noble fir tree is lit up when 1,500 lights are turned on.
