What’s up around town in August | Word on the Street

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The Port Townsend Main Street Program staff and volunteers have been running fast this summer. The flower baskets are blooming beautifully downtown and Uptown. There is pent up demand for things to do and places to visit. Special events are coming back. Our PT Main Street Concerts on the Dock are in full swing, with great bands, strong attendance and tasty, locally crafted food and beverages. 

We are really looking forward to one local event that has been on hiatus for the past two years. 

UPTOWN STREET FAIR

On Saturday, Aug. 20, we celebrate everything Uptown with the 30th Uptown Street Fair.

This pearl of a community event is part of Soundcheck, which is under the auspices of Port Townsend’s Creative District.

The 30th Uptown Street Fair will be a full day of free fun, with live music from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., children’s arts and reading activities, and a showing of “Encanto,” a free family-friendly movie at the Port Townsend Public Library at 6:00 pm. The fair is coordinated by the Port Townsend Main Street Program and the Uptown Street Fair Planning Committee, with assistance from the city of Port Townsend. See the full schedule at ptmainstreet.org.

In addition to live music all day, highlights include the Port Townsend Arts Guild Arts and Crafts Fair along Tyler Street, the Port Townsend Farmers Market which moves to Polk Street that day, and food vendors along Lawrence Street. The Uptown Pub continues its tradition of hosting an outdoor beer garden at the event. Please note: For public safety, Lawrence Street will be closed to traffic all day from Polk to Taylor, as will Tyler Street from Clay to Lawrence (to accommodate the Arts and Crafts Fair) and Polk Street from Clay to Lawrence (to accommodate the farmers market). 

At 2 p.m., “The Grandly Local Parade” will proceed from Harrison Street down Lawrence Street past Lawrence and Tyler. Don’t blink! It’s one of the shortest, yet most colorful parades in the Northwest. If you have been missing the Unexpected Brass Band, we expect them to be there. For safety, there will be temporary side street closures along the parade route.

When you are in Uptown, say hello to some new businesses. Explore Rust & Relic, Second Child, and Green Crow Tacos. We also hope you stop in at familiar Uptown business neighbors too and see what’s new. Take a break in the Uptown Courtyard, visit the retail shops and restaurants, and have a chat with friends and neighbors. 

The Uptown Street Fair is made possible thanks to generous community and Uptown businesses’ support through sponsorships.

Soundcheck 

Check out Soundcheck! This reimagined arts festival will take place Aug. 19 - — Aug. 25, prior to the THING festival. 

Soundcheck will feature a wide variety of arts experiences—live music, dance performances, a glass-blowing demonstration, outdoor movies, an independent filmmakers showcase, literary readings, a gallery walk, a songwriters showcase, and an extended Concert on the Dock for the last show of the season on Aug. 25. 

The final concert will start at 2 p.m. with a lineup of Soundcheck’s invited musicians, followed by Main Street’s headliner, Kevin Mason and the PT Allstars at 5 p.m. 

Halfway through the PT Allstars show, we plan to take the Port Townsend Family Portrait Community Photo to capture a moment in time at Concerts on the Dock and celebrate Port Townsend’s Creative District. Wear bright colors and your biggest smile. The photo will be shot by David Conklin, and copies of the family portrait will be printed on demand by The Printery. The Printery has been involved with designing and printing the Port Townsend Main Street Family Portrait since the original one in 1985. Orders can be placed at printery.com/family.

The Aug. 25 concert will then transition into Soundcheck’s late-night DJ Party at the Cotton Building.

Dedicated committee volunteers, nonprofits and generous local business sponsors have stepped up to support our local arts scene through Soundcheck. See the full lineup at ptsoundcheck.com.

Port Townsend is always full of surprises. Yesterday I saw a cyclist ride by playing a banjo uke.

Today, I’m writing this while it is raining, thundering, and sunny — all at the same time. Can a rainbow be far behind? Have a great rest of the summer.

(Mari F. Mullen is the executive director of the Port Townsend Main Street Program.)