This year marked the first time in a century that Port Townsend participated in a six-day chautauqua, according to New Old Time Chautauqua co-founder Paul Magid.

“It was truly a community event powered by many volunteers, committees and hosts, who gave of themselves to bring it to fruition,” Magid said.

Rosalee Walz, chair of the Chemakum Tribe, kicked off the Port Townsend Chautauqua’s series of workshops on May 14 at the Port Townsend Public Library, as she recounted the history of her tribe on the Quimper Peninsula.

Magid wore his historian’s hat to take part in the “My Story, Mystory, Mythstory” workshop May 17 at the Zee Tai Collective, hosted by Ron Johnson, a professor with the Makah Tribe.

Magid estimated about 30 people attended the discussion “about the importance of one's identity, and how it's shaped by place and the stories that are born from the land itself.”

The discussion included the pre-colonial-contact history of Port Townsend, as well as “how each person fits into the kaleidoscopic Port Townsend community,” in Magid’s words.

Both sessions of “The Big Show” packed the house at the American Legion hall May 18, as noted clown Faeble Kievman tried to fit himself through a folding chair, Vanessa Vortex hula-hooped with her 4-year-old daughter Zaya, and local magician Tobias Weinberger swallowed first a sword, then a chair leg.

The Pop-Up Movement's Shawn and Sadie performed acrobatics, while Jason Victor Serinus’ whistling interpretations of Mozart garnered standing ovations, cellist Christine Gunn played harmonies through looping, and Magid himself, as “Flying Karamazov Brother” Dmitri Karamazov, lost a wager with the audience, as he could not juggle three objects brought and selected by the public for 10 counts, so he earned a pie in the face.

“Indigenous Stories and Culture from the Olympic Peninsula, from Far to Near,” were hosted by the Pope Marine building May 19, drawing a crowd of more than 100 attendees.

“They were laughing and also mesmerized by Quinault Indian Nation member Harvest Moon’s stories,” Magid said. “Hoh Tribal member and elder Vivian Lee asked for two children to be in her story, about a longhouse long ago, while Makah speaker and teacher Maria Pascua told some wonderful tales, involving animals who once spoke to humans and each other.”

Lower Elwha singer and drummer Mark Charles concluded by recounting his personal story of returning to his people's ways, while over at Brigid's Loft, Matt Ives of the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribal Council and canoe journey skipper George Jones discussed “the importance of the canoe, in the past and today,” according to Magid.

Port Townsend City Council member Ben Thomas likewise deemed the May 19 “Community Congress” to be successful “in getting people to reach beyond their comfort zones to make connections.”

Thomas believes the Community Congress could serve as a model for future community conversations on challenging topics.

“My interest was in building more community resilience ahead of a divisive election, and getting people back to free and open communication, post-pandemic,” Thomas said. “I've noticed that our capacity for conversation, without full ideological agreement, has withered, just when we need it most.”

Thomas expressed the hope that this model could be easily replicated, because “I would love to continue this tradition in town.”

In addition to Thomas and Johnson, the Community Congress included community organizer and educator Diana Chan, as well as Derek Firenze, a journalist for The Beacon.

The Port Townsend Chautauqua ended at Pope Marine Park May 19, with a closing ceremony featuring the S'Klallam people singing and drumming. Magid opined that the Port Townsend Bay “felt as though it was glad to hear these voices once again.”