June

The 41st Annual Classic Mariners’ Regatta begins at 10 a.m. in Port Townsend Bay on June 1-2. Open to all types of sailboats. Two days of racing including a pursuit race on day two.The Classic Mariners’ Regatta is beautiful wooden boats, high-caliber sailors racing their hearts out, and a friendly atmosphere. Hand-sewn award pennants and a courtyard dinner, nwmaritime.org/classic-mariners-regatta and ptsail.org.

Port Townsend Farmers Market - open Saturdays April through mid-December from

9 a.m. TO 2 p.m. at 650 Tyler St., Port Townsend.

The Chimacum Farmers Market opens for the season on June 2. Sundays from 10 a.m. TO 2 p.m. until Oct. 30. Chimacum Corner Farmstand. For more information, visit jcfmarkets.org.

Centrum Port Townsend Chamber Music Series 2 p.m. The American String Quartet Concert at Joseph Wheeler Theater, Fort Worden State Park. The globally- renowned quart takes the stage in Port Townsend, playing classical favorites from the likes of Schumann, Ravel and Beethoven.  centrum.org/event/angeles-ensemble-2/

Art Walk in Port Townsend takes place the first Saturday of every month from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Talk to the artists while enjoying some refreshments. If you’re not able to make Art Walk, check out Port Townsend art galleries any time.

Race to Alaska Pre-Race Ruckus from noon to 8 p.m. on June 8, celebrate the teams at one of Port Townsend’s favorite block parties, the Ruckus, at Northwest Maritime Center, free! Dozens of R2AK boats and crew will be spread across the Ruckus for you to check out. See some race boats, meet the racers, get great food and drinks, and dance it up with fun music.

On June 9 at 5 a.m. the  R2AK (Race To Alaska) begins. The 750-mile, engineless, unsupported race from Port Townsend to Ketchikan, Alaska begins on June 9 at 5 a.m. Teams on all types of watercraft from stand-up paddleboards to catamarans cross the start line in the Bay right outside of the Swan Hotel. Head over to the Northwest Maritime Center on the morning of the 13th to cheer them on—the energy is palpable. visit r2ak.com

Bayside Housing & Services and The Old Alcohol Plant Inn present Susan Keister: A Life of Mark Making 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on June 9. 75 paintings, prints, and collages, and giclée prints available for purchase. Proceeds to benefit Bayside Housing & Services.

Centrum’s Voices from the Field Arts Academy From June 9-13 at Fort Worden State Park. For students entering grades 7-8, chosen by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Education’s Migrant Education Program. centrum.org/voices-from-the-field-youth-program.

Port Townsend High School Alumni Banquet is 4 P.M. ON JUNE 10 at the Elks Lodge #317 at 555 Otto Street in Port Townsend. This is our 126th year! Social time starts at 4:00.p.m. followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and announcements at 7:30 p.m. Dancing will follow around 8:30 p.m.

Brass Screw Consortium Steampunk Extravaganza June 14-16. Experience the steamy Den of Inequities. All-Age events for goggled younglings including scavenger hunts and pirate shenanigans!! Bands, busquers and a dazzilicious fashion show!! The Factions dust off their capes and goggles, rewax their mustachios and get ready to reignite their competitive tomfooleries throughout the festival. Don’t miss the grand Hootenanny featuring the finest steampunk bands abetted by those wily green fairies. Event is held at the Northwest Maritime Center, 421 Water St. Port Townsend brass-screw.org

Originally called the Quilcene Gravel Unravel, the Bon Jovi Pass Out returns June 15. The village of Quilcene is perfectly placed at the base of the Olympic Mountains, and along Quilcene Bay. This town is synonymous with hospitality, and especially welcoming are the great folks at Worthington Park, where we will be based for the day. After leaving Worthington Park, riders head for their first challenge — Bon Jon Pass. After Bon Jon Pass, enjoy the views and ridges, returning via Lords Lake Loop. Well, except the long course riders — they get to climb Bon Jon again. bikereg.com/gravel-unravel

History Hikes with Jefferson County Historic Society from 10:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on June 15. Port Williams/Marlyn Nelson County Park. A guided hike series at historically significant sites around the Olympic Peninsula. May’s hike takes place at Port Williams and Marlyn Nelson County Park, where hikers will enjoy a 2.5-mile guided beach walk, uncovering the layered history of the once-bustling port town.

The RAKERS Car Club Annual Car Show comes to town June 15 at 9:30 a.m. The Rakers invite all makes of cars, trucks, rat rods,and motorcycles to our Annual Show. Numerous awards in a wide range of classes. Dash plaques for earliest arrivals. ptrakers.com.

Explorations in Music & Art July 15-19 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Ages 5-9. Through movement, collaborative games, and play on musical instruments, students will develop musical knowledge and skills; and drawing inspiration from their wooded surroundings, will create visual arts using a variety of techniques including painting, sculpting, and textiles.

1:30-4:30 pm Ages 8-14 Students develop skills in a variety of mediums while strengthening their individual artistic voice. Mediums include printmaking, painting, weaving, and sewing. Through collaborative music making, students build skills in composition, improvisation, and performance while developing techniques on piano, string, and percussion instruments. Contact: sophiepipia@gmail.com.

The Distance Race to Watmough Bay on Lopez Island takes place on Saturday, June 18-19. Spend the night and race back on Sunday. For more info, visit ptsail.org.

The Port Townsend Summer Band performs at 1 p.m. Monday June 23 at Pope Marine Park, Port Townsend. Visit ptsummerband.org.

Rainshadow Recording welcomes Dana Cooper to the Palindrome on Tuesday, June 25.

Trinity United Methodist’s Candlelight Concert Series 7 p.m on June 27. Classical pianist Lino Rivera is back by popular demand and will be playing at 609 Taylor St., across from the Community Center in Uptown.

Centrum Voice Works returns to Fort Worden State Park June 25-30. Led by Artistic Director Pharis Romero, this gathering was intended to share Romero’s personality, energy and artistry with top-drawer vocalists. Visit centrum.org/voice-works-a-workshop-for-singers.

Centrum Presents Free Fridays Noon - 1 p.m. Fort Worden Park from June 28 - August 2. The popular lunchtime concert series will be held on the lawn of the Nora Porter Commons at Fort Worden State Park. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, a picnic lunch - or stop by the Fort Worden Commons to grab something before the show. 

Centrum Voice Works Honky Tonk Polka Dot Dance begins at 8:00 p.m on June 29. Wear your polka dots! At the USO Hall Building. Featuring all of Voice Works faculty, supported by band led by Thomas Bryan Eaton Visit centrum.org.

Rainshadow Recording welcomes Alice Howe & Freebo to the Palindrome on Saturday, June 29.

Summer Puffin Tours are available throughout the summer at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center. Saturday. Protection Island comes alive as thousands of seabirds arrive to breed and raise their young, including rhinoceros auklets, glaucous-winged gulls, pigeon guillemots, black oystercatchers, two kinds of cormorants, and of course the tufted puffin (one of the last two nesting colonies of tufted puffins in the Puget Sound area.). Harbor seals depend upon the island for a pupping and rest area, and elephant seals often haul out to molt there during the summer. Although we can’t guarantee a sighting on every outing, the chance of spotting a puffin on our evening Puffin Cruises is very good. For registration and more visit ptmc.org.

Port Townsend Treasures self-guided Trivia Hunt occur throughout the summer season.See more at ILovePortTownsend.com.

July

Centrum’s Fiddle Tunes returns July 1-8. Spend a week living, learning and playing music with masters of a wide variety of fiddling styles and traditions. Visit centrum.org/festival-of-american-fiddle-tunes-the-workshop.

The Port Townsend Summer Band returns for the July 4 Picnic at Fort Worden State park. Visit ptsummerband.org for details.

Centrum’s Fiddle on the Fourth performs at 1:30 p.m. at McCurdy Pavilion from Fort Worden State Park. Visit centrum.org

Centrum’s Fiddle Tunes Finale marks the conclusion of the summer series on July 7 at 1:30 p.m. from McCurdy Pavilion, Fort Worden State Park. Visit centrum.org.

Concerts on the Dock returns on July 11, when Marmalade performs from 5 - 7 p.m. A free outdoor concert series featuring primarily local bands at the Pope Marine Plaza Beer/wine/cider garden and local vendors. Visit ptmainstreet.org/concerts-on-the-dock. *Subject to change, rain cancels*

Centrum Writers’ Conference begins 7 p.m. from July-14-20. Free Public Readings.

On July 16, The Sol Grinder Bike Race will take you down through long cathedral-like corridors of Sitka Spruce, Douglas Fir and Cedars. You will have the sound of water as you cross the sparkling Sol Duc River or one of its many tributaries. Little creeks are constantly gurgling and splashing by you as you grind your way to the pinnacle of this course, opening up to views into the interior of Olympic National Park and Forest. The short and long courses go through the “Keyhole”, a passageway blasted through the spine of the dividing ridge. bikereg.com/gravel-unravel

Concerts on the Dock returns when The Sweater Weather String Band takes the stage from 5 - 7 p.m. on July 18. A free outdoor concert series featuring primarily local bands at the Pope Marine Plaza Beer/wine/cider garden and local vendors. Visit ptmainstreet.org/concerts-on-the-dock. *Subject to change, rain cancels*

Salish 100 Small Boat Cruising in the Puget Sound from July 18-25. Created by the Port Townsend Pocket Yachters club and now part of Northwest Maritime Center’s family of events, the Salish 100 has joined the Race to Alaska and the SEVENTY48 as three of the most unique and vibrant water activities in the Pacific Northwest. Salish 100 is 135+ boats cruising 100 nautical miles—the full length of Puget Sound—from Olympia to Port Townsend, WA.

Join the Low Tide Walk at Port Townsend Marine Science Center on July 21,. Come by for a guided walk on the beach at low tide and learn how animals survive and thrive in the intertidal zone. Meet at the museum exhibit entrance (building on the shore). RSVP ptmc.org.

Kids classes in music, cooking, & art  from July 22-26. 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Ages 9-14 Musical, culinary, and visual arts are interwoven in a week of multimedia creativity. Students develop musical skills on piano, strings, and woodwind instruments; with each day also featuring either an art or culinary project including bread baking, cooking, and plated desserts.

1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Ages 4-8 Explore music through movement, stories, collaborative play. Young musicians develop skills on piano, pitched and unpitched percussion, ukulele, and recorders through an exploration of beat and rhythm, melody and harmony, and timbre and dynamics, all in an immersive environment that fosters a lifelong creativity. Contact: sophiepipia@gmail.com.

The next edition of Concerts on the Dock on July 25 features Jay Si Proof, performing from 5 - 7 p.m. . A free outdoor concert series featuring primarily local bands at the Pope Marine Plaza Beer/wine/cider garden and local vendors. Visit ptmainstreet.org/concerts-on-the-dock. *Subject to change, rain cancels*

Port Townsend Pacific Northwest Small Boat Festival returns to Port Hadlock on July 26 & 27 from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Over two days, more than 75 small boats from all over will meet in Port Hadlock. While the area will feature many wooden boats, the festival celebrates boats of all varieties, including canoes, paddle boards, engine-powered, and many other boating vessels.

From July 22-28, Centrum Jazz Port Townsend is offering an online version that will include a variety of special topics sessions, master classes and the incomparable Faculty Presents concerts from the Wheeler Theater. Visit centrum.org/jazz-port-townsend-the-workshop.

Centrum Jazz in the Clubs on July 26 & 27 from 7:30 p.m. - 10 p.m.. See the Acoustic Blues faculty and participants perform in intimate, club-like venues throughout Fort Worden. Wristbands are $25 and can be purchased at the Commons Building.

Centrum Jazz Port Townsend Main Stage Concert will take place on July 27 at 1:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. at the McCurdy Pavilion.

A fun live performance by the fantastic troupe Up, Up, Up, Circus will be live and in person in Quilcene at Worthington Park on Saturday, July 27, Chimacum at FinnRiver Farm and Cider on Sunday, July 28, and finally In Bloom Lavender Farms in Sequim on July 29.

Port Townsend Summer Band returns Sunday, July 28, Pope Marine Park, Port Townsend. For more information, visit ptsummerband.org.

Centrum’s 30th Annual Acoustic Blues Festival and Workshops, which runs from July 29 - August 4, showcases the roots of the blues. The week long event offers opportunities for individuals to immerse themselves in early blues traditions and participating within the tradition genre.

Visit centrum.org/port-townsend-acoustic-blues-festival-workshop

August

Concerts on the Dock returns August 1 from 5 - 7 p.m., featuring Cold Comfort with Small Paul. A free outdoor concert series featuring primarily local bands at the Pope Marine Plaza Beer/wine/cider garden and local vendors. Visit ptmainstreet.org/concerts-on-the-dock. *Subject to change, rain cancels*

Performing at 8:30 p.m. on August 2 and 3 at the American Legion Hall, Pigs on the Wing is the Northwest’s premier live tribute to Pink Floyd. The band will perform two sets from deep cuts and hits from “Piper at the Gates of Dawn,” “Mettle,” “Dark Side of the Moon,” ”Animals,” “The Wall,” and more. Admission is 21 and older.

On August 2 at 7:30 p.m. - 10 p.m., Centrum Blues in the Clubs is a moveable feast of great music in various Fort Worden venues, with each venue operating on a first-come, first-served basis. Your wristband is an all-access pass, and we encourage you to move around throughout the evening to gain the full benefit of the clubs experience. visit centrum.org

The Art Walk returns August 3, the First Saturday of every month from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Talk to the artists while enjoying some refreshments. If you’re not able to make Art Walk, check out Port Townsend art galleries any time.

The Ted Pike Memorial Run Race comes back to Port Townsend on August 3. The In this race, the competitors start with one member of each crew ashore and the boats at anchor. At the start, each makes their way back to their boat, at which time the boat can raise sails and get underway. They then sail the course. For the finish, a crew member must go ashore and their time is taken when he or she drinks a small glass of rum (or water). Visit ptsail.org.

The Centrum Acoustic Blues Showcase takes place at 1:30 p.m in McCurdy Pavilion at Fort Worden State Park August 3. visit centrum.org

August 4, Olympic National Park open to all with  Free Entrance in the National Parks. Fee waiver includes: entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees. Other fees such as reservation, camping, tours, concession and fees collected by third parties are not included unless stated otherwise.

On August 5-6 at 7:30 p.m. - 10 p.m., Centrum Blues in the Clubs is a moveable feast of great music in various Fort Worden venues, with each venue operating on a first-come, first-served basis. Your wristband is an all-access pass, and we encourage you to move around throughout the evening to gain the full benefit of the clubs experience. visit centrum.org

At 2:00 p.m. from Wheeler Theater, meet the 5 gifted young artists who were selected for the Olympic Chamber Music Fellowship after an competitive audition process from August 5-18 in residence at the Olympic Music Festival in August! Fellows will perform alongside mentoring artists and receive guidance as they embark on their professional careers in music. olympicmusicfestival.org/olympic-chamber-music-fellowship

At 5 - 7 p.m. on August 8,  Duende Libre takes the stage at Concerts on the Dock. A free outdoor concert series featuring primarily local bands at the Pope Marine Plaza Beer/wine/cider garden and local vendors. For more information visit ptmainstreet.org/concerts-on-the-dock. *Subject to change, rain cancels*

Come one come all to the Jefferson County Fair! We are so excited to be back in person for 2024, sharing the bounty of our region’s unique and thriving farming heritage, the amazing animals, horse events and all the trimmings that make up a County Fair. The fair will take place from August 9-11. Visit jeffcofair.com.

Port Townsend Summer Band will be performing at the Jefferson County Fair. Visit ptsummerband.org. Date TBA

On August 10 at 2:00 p.m. from Wheeler Theater, celebrate with the Olympic Music Festival’s opening concert and hear OMF Fellows and Mentors perform a masterworks collection from Haydn, Beethoven, and Mozart., complete with a post-concert question and answer session. 

On August 11 at 2:00 p.m from Wheeler Theater. An Olympic Music Festival concert featuring the classical sounds of American performers Burleigh, Dvořák and Price.

Concerts on the Dock is a a free outdoor concert series and on August 15 from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.. The concert will feature Uncle Funk and the Dope 6 at the Pope Marine Plaza Beer/wine/cider garden and local vendors. Visit ptmainstreet.org/concerts-on-the-dock. *Subject to change, rain cancels*

Soundcheck Music & Arts Festival is a locally-focused multidisciplinary arts festival that starts with the Uptown Street Fair on August 15th and runs through August 18th. It is a celebration aimed at luring people to have some fun in our community and a chance to show off our town and our artists to a new crowd.  Visit ptcreativedistrict.org

On August 17 at 10 a.m., the  Bush Point Distance Race starts at City Dock and will race to the “SC” buoy in Admiralty Inlet and back. Visit ptsail.org.

The Kiwanis Classic Car Show returns to Memorial Athletic Field in Port Townsend on August 17. Cars, trucks and motorcycles of all vintages are welcome. Visit port-townsend.kiwanisone.org/Page/14919.

Let’s celebrate the Uptown Historic Business District and neighborhood for the Uptown Street Fair with family fun, a showcase of great local art with the PT Arts Guild Arts & Crafts Fair as well as music, local food, and The Farmers’ Market from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on August 17. Visit ptmainstreet.org/uptown-street-fair.

On August 17 at 2:00 p.m. from Wheeler Theater, there is an Olympic Music Festival concert featuring classic folk melodies & dances by Françaix, Beethoven and Brahms.

The All-County Picnic on August 18 encourages East Jefferson County residents to develop resiliency by fostering community and raising awareness about local emergency resources. Visit theproductionalliance.org/events/all-county-picnic.

On August 18 at 2:00 p.m. from Wheeler Theater, the Olympic Music Festival returns. The concert will feature classical tunes by Bacewicz, Shostakovich and Mendelssohn.

Concerts on the Dock is a a free outdoor concert series on August 22 from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.. The concert will feature Sweet & Juicy with Marco Marco at the Pope Marine Plaza Beer/wine/cider garden and local vendors. Visit ptmainstreet.org/concerts-on-the-dock. *Subject to change, rain cancels*

Rainshadow Recording welcomes 2Aility: Steve Grimes and Steve Susser to the Palindrome on Saturday, August 24.

On August 24-25 at 2:00 p.m from Wheeler Theater. The Olympic Music Festival Series will feature the Beethoven’s Complete Cello Sonatas.

The Port Townsend Summer Band returns to Pope Marine Park in Port Townsend on August 25. Time TBA. For more information, visit ptsummerband.org.

Concerts on the Dock is a a free outdoor concert series on August 22 from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.. A free outdoor concert series featuring Kevin Mason & the PT All Stars at the Pope Marine Plaza Beer/wine/cider garden and local vendors. Visit ptmainstreet.org/concerts-on-the-dock. *Subject to change, rain cancels*

Rainshadow Recording welcomes Nathaniel Talbot Trio to the Palindrome on Friday, August 30.

The Thunderbird Championship Regatta returns to Port Townsend on August 30 - September 1. Multiple days of racing will determine the best Thunderbird and crew in Puget Sound and beyond. Visit ptsail.org.