QUILCENE — The Quilcene Fair and Parade is back Saturday with a classic car show, a parade, a salmon cook-out, a carnival and outstanding vegetables.
The fair, an annual event at Quilcene School, 294715 U.S. Highway 101, will begin with a classic car show at 9 a.m. and end with the last rides of the carnival at 10 p.m.
In between will be a parade at 11 a.m., a “burnout” at the car show at 3 p.m., Lobo Del Mar performing from noon to 3 p.m. and the return of the salmon.
The salmon cook-out will begin at noon next to the school cafeteria. For $10 a plate, visitors will get a salmon barbecue lunch with coleslaw, beans and sourdough bread.
“It’s really nice to have that back,” said Bonnie McDaniel, the secretary for the fair. “It’s something that hasn’t been back in a number of years.”
The carnival will begin a day early, starting at 3 p.m. today and going on until 10 p.m., then return from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Pre-carnival tickets will be available at local outlets until the carnival opens for $15 per day. Once the rides begin, tickets go up to $20.
Local dignitaries will ride in the parade, which has the theme “Community with Heart.”
Especially honored will be Nancy Biery for her successful levy campaign for Quilcene Fire Rescue. She will ride in the passenger seat of the fire department’s new aid car.
“Cookie lady” Sharon McClain, a tireless volunteer, will serve as the grand marshal.
The king and queen of this year’s fair are fourth-grade teacher Gary Stebbins and his wife, Maureen Stebbins, a frequent volunteer at the elementary school.
Citizen of the Year is Veda Wilson, honored for her work in creating the school’s farm-to-school practice. Other Quilcene school staff will be honored in the parade as well.
The Most Missed Citizen is Carol Christiansen, who, after accepting the Jefferson County Citizen of the Year award in 2014 on behalf of herself and her deceased husband, Jim, moved to Edmonds in December 2015.
Christiansen still stays involved in Quilcene through work with the Quilcene Museum, the Hamilton-Worthington Mansion Building Team and as a volunteer for the Quilcene Oyster Half-Marathon, 10K and 5K Race coming up Sept, 24.
The parade’s Pioneer Citizen is Myra Tornensis, 74, who is active in her community of Coyle.
The 2015-16 Quilcene Teacher of the Year is Trey Beathard, who teaches health and physical education and coaches football.
The 2015-16 Quilcene School Staff Member of the Year is Colleen Winn, a para-educator who also serves as a foster and adoptive parent. She and her husband have eight children.
Associated Student Body officers will serve as the Teen Student Dignitaries.
Strange vegetables will be on display at the Quilcene Brinnon Garden Club Corner from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Prizes will be awarded for the longest zucchini, largest circumference pumpkin, heaviest tomato, best jam, prettiest preserved vegetable and most beautiful flower arrangement.
A new category this year is for children ages 5 to 12: make the scariest vegetable monster.
Photographs of the Quilcene, Brinnon and Dabob-Coyle areas will be on display at the school cafeteria.
Raffle tickets will be sold at the fair information booth for $1 for a host of prizes ranging from magnets to gift certificates to a charcoal barbecue.
Not returning this year will be the arts and crafts table, but McDaniel said organizers are looking for volunteers for next year.
McDaniel said the fair should be a hit, despite possible rainy conditions this weekend.
“It’s a really fun community event that has all the attributes of a country fair and shouldn’t be missed,” McDaniel said.
“We have a lot of different things that will appeal to a lot of different people.”
The Quilcene Fair has been a staple in the community since it started in 1980 and is entirely run by volunteers.
A full schedule for the fair as well as a full list of raffle prizes can be found at www.quilcenefair.com.
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Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Cydney McFarland can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 5550, or at cmcfarland@peninsula dailynews.com.
