Festivals galore this weekend in North Kitsap

POULSBO — It shouldn't be difficult for anyone in Kitsap County to find something to do this weekend.

There is a fair for those interested in tinkering. A festival for those interested in the environment. A festival for adventurers. And a book signing and talk for readers with a taste for suspense.

The Northwest Adventure Sports Festival is June 9-10 at Port Gamble — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. The festival features the BEAST Adventure Races, Paddle the Dragon Race, Festival Fun Run, and vendors and classes. The festival is open to all ages.

The BEAST race course includes paddling Hood Canal, mountain biking on Pope Resources single-track trails and trail-running the same forests. Long and spring races will be held as well. In the Paddle the Dragon Race, participants will race using a variety of paddling methods, including outrigger canoes and standup paddle boards.

For those who want to learn more about the environment, ECOFEST will be held Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Stillwaters Environmental Center, 26059 Barber Cut Off Road, Kingston. The event is free and open to the public.

"Back to the Basics" is the theme, with educational booths on backyard and small-scale farming. Livestock, including chickens, rabbits, goats and more will be on-hand. Livestock owners will be there to answer questions. Some chickens will be available for adoption.

Entertainment includes the Dance Within Dancers (11:15 a.m); The Brass Ring horn and brass ensemble (noon); County Commissioner Robert Gelder and special awards (1 p.m.); The Stillwaters Frog Chorus drama troupe for kids (1:15 p.m.); Athena, the Barred Owl from West Sound Wildlife Shelter (2 p.m.); and the Diamond Heart Band playing a variety of music (2:30-4 p.m.). Food will be available.

If reading is your thing, stop by the Port Gamble Theater on Saturday at 2 p.m. to meet Gregg Olsen, author of "Envy."

Olsen will lead a book talk and guided tour around Port Gamble, the setting for the book. "Envy" is the first of six books in Olsen's Empty Coffin series.

With any remaining energy, folks can head to the second Kitsap Mini Maker Faire on Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Poulsbo Seventh-Day Adventist School, 1700 NE Lincoln Road.

About least 60 exhibitors and vendors are expected to share their talents — cooks, farmers, wood workers, engineers of all kinds. New this year: an underwater remotely operated vehicle, origami experts, quilters and more.

Admission is $3 or $6 for a group of immediate family.

The idea for the festival was sparked three years ago, when event organizer TJ McCue and the Rexin family attended a similar fair in California. It had enough draw last year to warrant bringing it back for a second time.

 

Contact North Kitsap Herald Education/Sports Reporter Kipp Robertson at krobertson@northkitsapherald.com or (360) 779-4464.

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