Enjoy Port Townsend this summer!
Summer is in full swing and promises to heat up even more with blazing hot events and activities throughout the month. We have performances that will get your blood pumping, your heart thumping and your feet stomping. Bring your family, your best friend, your sweetheart or come solo, but whatever you do, be sure to check out all the fun!
“Old School” 4th of July at Fort Worden
Celebrate America’s birthday at Fort Worden and get ready for the biggest and best party of the year at the “Old School” 4th of July. Don’t miss an epic lineup of live entertainment, food vendors, field games, free root beer floats, a tug-of-war, watermelon eating contest, and a community portrait, all culminating in a glorious laser light show at 10:20 pm. The festivities begin at 4 pm on the parade grounds at Fort Worden. Headline sponsors for the event are Thunderbull Productions, the City of Port Townsend, the Friends of Fort Worden and Seattle Theater Group, along with many local businesses.
Centrum’s Festival of Fiddle Tunes
An ”Old School” 4th overlaps with Centrum’s Festival of Fiddle Tunes, a week-long immersion workshop presenting fiddle styles from specific regions of the world. Two performances will honor this American holiday: Fiddles on the Fourth is at 1:30 pm in the McCurdy Pavilion and at 7:30 pm, enjoy Fireworks and Fiddles featuring artists from Iowa, Georgia, Western Canada, New England and Louisiana Cajuns, also at the McCurdy Pavilion. For tickets, go to www.centrum.org.
Concerts on the Dock, in downtown Port Townsend
Rock the dock this summer at the free, all-ages, outdoor Concerts on the Dock, in downtown Port Townsend on the waterfront across from City Hall. The series, sponsored by the Port Townsend Main Street Program, runs every Thursday, July 11 through August 29, at the Pope Marine Park/City Dock Civic Plaza. Come to dance, see friends, enjoy a drink and have a bite. Local vendors and a beer/wine/cider garden will contribute to the festive atmosphere. Seating opens at 4:30 pm, show starts at 5 pm and ends at 7:30 pm. Bring chairs or blankets and settle in for some great tunes. For more into and details about the bands that are playing, go to www.ptmainstreet.org/
Free Fridays at the Fort
Centrum offers the Free Fridays at the Fort concert series July 5 through August 4, showcasing fiddle tunes, jazz and blues on the lawn of the Commons at Fort Worden and is free to the public. Performances begin at noon and go until 1 pm. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, a picnic lunch or grab something to go at Reveille in the Commons. In the rare event of inclement weather, alternative plans will be posted on www.centrum.org.
Olympic Music Festival
The wildly popular Olympic Music Festival presents its 36th annual summer concert series, offering 12 world-class performances of chamber music and other styles over six weekends, July 13 and 14, and August 10 through September 8. Concerts are presented in partnership with Centrum at Fort Worden.
Opening weekend celebrates the festival season with Art of the Violin I. Superstar Sarah Change joins pianist and OMF Artistic Director Julio Elizalde for an exclusive recital to kick off the summer season. Together, the duo explores treasures of the violin and piano repertoire including Beethoven’s powerful “Moonlight” and “Appassionata sonatas,” Bazzini’s demonic Round of the Goblins; and Ravel’s dazzling gypsy fantasy, Tzigane. Buy tickets early as space if limited and expected to sell out: www.olympicmusicfestival.org
Jazz Port Townsend
Jazz Port Townsend is the perfect opportunity to experience excellent musicians, soak up a weekend of jazz in a seaside paradise and participate in a wide array of main stage and nightclub performances, July 25-27. Artistic Director John Clayton inspires a true sense of family during this special week of events that showcases internationally-known performers in new and unexpected pairings. Jazz Port Townsend has emerged as one of the leading jazz festivals in the nation.
Festival mainstage performances take place in Fort Worden State Park’s 1200-seat McCurdy Pavilion. Jazz Port Townsend also features the popular Jazz in the Clubs series, in venues throughout Fort Worden. Come alive with the sounds of jazz. Jazz in the Clubs: Thursday, July 25, 8-11 pm, Friday and Saturday, July 26 and 27, 10 pm – 12:30 am. Mainstage Concerts: Friday, July 26, 7:30 pm, Saturday, July 27, 1:30 pm and 7:30 pm. For more information, go to www.centrum.org/jazz-port-townsend-performances/.
A few upcoming events later this summer—Save the Dates!
Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival, July 28-August 4 www.centrum.org
Olympic Music Festival at Fort Worden, August 10-September 8 www.olympicmusicfestival.org
Key City Public Theatre’s Shakespeare in the Park, The Merry Wives of Windsor, August 1-25, www.keycitypublictheare.org
Jefferson County Fair, August 9-11, www.jeffcofairgrounds.com
Uptown Street Fair, August 17, www.ptmainstreet.org
Concerts on the Dock, every Thursday in August
www.ptmainstreet.orgWooden Boat Festival, September 6-8, www.woodenboat.org
Pack up your dancin’ shoes, favorite shorts, best hat, music-loving friends and family, and head to Port Townsend for some epic fun and sizzling hot summer events this month. We can’t wait to see you!
Thanks,