Special occasion coming up? Guests visiting? Want to experience a unique Canal perspective? Look no further than our Hood Canal Sunset Dinner Cruises!
Chef Katherine serves four courses on the flybridge for a unique dining adventure on this 3-hour journey!
The view of sun setting beyond the Olympic range from the water is spectacular – pair that with local wildlife and a gourmet meal prepared in the galley? Sublime.
Olympic Peninsula locals Captain Kelley and Chef Katherine explore on the Hood Canal in a restored 1969 36’ mahogany Grand Banks trawler. Scuba Dive & Dine trips, Shellfishing & Kayaking packages, and custom itineraries are available.
SUNSET DINNER CHARTERS $175 /person. Departure from Brinnon at 6-9 PM (based on season). Pick up from local lodging via van or boat available. Non-alcoholic beverages provided, welcome to BYOB Guests 13 and under must wear life jacket when not in cabin (please provide your own).
Saltwater, Sawdust & SUMMER LIGHT
Rachel Hansen, editor
As spring closes across the shores and forests of the Hood Canal, we are delighted to welcome you to the 37th issue of Tracing the Fjord. Each season reminds us why this remarkable corner of the Pacific Northwest continues to inspire artists, writers, musicians, hikers, and neighbors alike. From the tidal flats to the timberlands, there is a creative energy here that feels both timeless and deeply rooted in community.
Festival season begins in earnest for us on May 16 while we host Sawdust, Stumps & Seashells in Hoodsport — a joyful gathering that celebrates the spirit of our region while ushering in the beloved Mason County Forest Festival season. This year’s event brings together local events, businesses and nonprofit organizations, each sharing the stories, traditions, and passions that make our communities thrive. Amongst others, visitors will find representation from Hoodsport’s June Fjordin Crossin, July’s Bluegrass from the Forest, and August’s Hoodstock Music Festival, offering a wonderful preview of the months ahead.
The May 16 event also highlights the many hands-on experiences that make local festivals so memorable. Guests can enjoy arts activities for all ages, learn from timber heritage and wildfire awareness displays, and connect with groups dedicated to preserving both our forests and our way of life. Events like these remind us that community is not simply something we talk about — it is something we build together, season after season.
This issue of Tracing the Fjord is also a celebration of the talented contributors who continue to share their voices and visions with our readers.
We are especially grateful for Thom Robbin’s poetic and deeply moving exploration under the sea. His reflections capture the quiet wonder of life beneath the canal, while his extraordinary photography offers readers a rare glimpse beneath the surface of our inland waters. His work reminds us that beauty often exists just beyond what we ordinarily see.
Adventure awaits as well in this issue, with a captivating hiking feature from a respected guidebook author, Craig Romano, who journeys to Marmot Pass via the Tubal Cain Trail. The story is both invitation and inspiration — a reminder that some of the region’s most breathtaking experiences begin with simply putting one foot in front of the other beneath towering evergreens and mountain skies.
We are equally thankful for the many event organizers, volunteers, artists, and community leaders whose contributions fill these pages. Their dedication keeps the Olympic Peninsula vibrant, welcoming, and artistically alive. Behind every concert, fundraiser, festival, and gathering are countless hours of unseen work driven by love for this place and its people. As you turn these pages, we hope you feel the same sense of connection that inspires every issue of Tracing the Fjord. Thank you for joining us in celebrating the landscapes, traditions, creativity, and community spirit that continue to define life around the fjord.
“Let Us Be Your Guides”
The Munn Bro's specialize in waterfront homes and acreage in the N.W. Hood Canal which includes Lake Leland, Dabob Bay, Quilcene and Brinnon areas. Enjoy the extended spring and autumn seasons of the Hood Canal. Munn Bro’s agents are thankful for the wonderful people in this pristine area that make it a unique place to live. Experience outdoor activities, wild crafting mushrooms, wildlife, locally grown food, and an abundance of fresh seafood.
Owner/Broker
Select the most knowledgeable and experienced agents to guide you in the purchase or sale of your property. Our team truly know the homes and land of West Hood Canal. Stop by our new office at 294772 Hwy.101in Quilcene for FREE maps, tide
Open Mic at Bent Bine Brew Thursdays, 5 PM , 23297 HWY 3, Belfair
Fiber Art Fridays at Marmo Caffè
Every first and third Friday, 3-6 PM 217 W Cota St, Shelton
Bring a fiber art project to work on (FREE).
Shelton Family YMCA FREE Teen Night Fridays, 5 PM - 8 PM 3101 N Shelton Springs Rd, Shelton
Trivia Night at Bent Bine Brew Co. Fridays, 7 PM, FREE 23297 HWY 3, Belfair
Trivia Night at Potlatch
Every 4th Friday, 6-8PM, FREE, Hoodsport
North Mason Eagles Karaoke
Fridays, 7 PM, 80 NE Alder Creek Ln, Belfair
Shelton Farmers Market
Saturday, 10 – 3 PM, 425 Cota St, Shelton
Saturday Night Bingo in Brinnon
Saturdays, 151 Corey Street, Brinnon
Bookmobile in Brinnon & Quilcene
Saturdays, 10 – 12 PM Brinnon
Saturdays, 1:30 – 4 PM Quilcene
Craft Club at Marmo Caffè & Gallery
Every 2nd and 4th Sunday, 11 - 2 PM 217 W Cota St, Shelton
Live Music at Bent Bine Brew Co.
Saturdays, 5PM, 23297 HWY 3, Belfair
Joon Bug Full Moon Yoga
7:00 - 8:30 PM, 10 E. Alderbrook Dr. Union
Summer 2026 dates: May 31 (Flower Moon), June 29 (Strawberry Moon), July 29 (Buck Moon), August 28 (Sturgeon Moon).
Class is open to everyone and registration is required. joonbugyoga.com
McReavy House, Union WA
Open for historical tours Saturdays/ Sundays from 1-4 PM, Memorial – Labor Day.
Weekly/Monthly Events at Quilcene Community Center
294952 Hwy 101pm
Yoga: Saturday, 10-11 AM drop-in welcome. Fitness Aerobics: Thursday 10-11 AM all ages
Pancake Breakfast: 9 –12 PM , first Saturday Sacred Healing Bowls: Last Friday, 6 PM Game Night: Wednesdays 3:30 -8:00 PM
Gray Coast Guildhall
11 Old Church Rd, Quilcene. Music and theater events, schedule at graycoastguildhall.com
Quilcene Lantern
7360 Center Road, Quilcene
Live music, dancing and entertainment in barn venue and bar. quilcenelantern.com
Skookum Rotary Music in the Park Wednesdays, Kneeland Park, Shelton
Live from the Shell Pile
Fridays, Hama Hama Oyster, Lilliwaup Hamahamaoysters.com for 2026 schedule.
MAY
Shelton Peninsula Art Monthly Meeting
Thursday, May 14, 1-3 PM
Graffiti Art Center, 215 W Railroad Ave, Shelton
Rhododendron Festival
Wednesday, May 13-17
Fort Worden State Park, Port Townsend
Chamber Luncheon
Friday, May 15
Shelton-Mason County Chamber of Commerce
The May Chamber luncheon — guest speaker, community updates, and a hot lunch. Open to members and guests. masonchamber.com.
Fjodin Crossin IPA Release Party
Friday, May 15 | Potlatch Brewing, Hoodsport Pop over to Hardware Distillery to sample our NEW Aquavit cocktails!
SAWDUST ARTS FESTIVAL
Saturday, May 16, 10:00 - 5:00 PM
24341 U.S. 101, Hoodsport
Hands-on workshops, music, and displays highlighting the region’s creative spirit and deep connection to its timber roots. The event also marks the launch of the Mason County Forest Festival, blending arts and culture with local tradition. Festival-goers can expect appearances by Paul Bunyan and Babe, the Forest Festival Royalty Court. For details on participating in this new event email anna@nwevent.org.
Timber Forest Artists Market
May 16, 10:00 – 4:00 PM
9572 Rhody Dr., Chimacum
Artists and crafters offering unique and exciting items! If you are interested in joining this talented team of artists and crafters, contact Karen Robinson at 317-847-6484 for details.
Spell-E-Bration
Saturday, May 16, 4 – 8 PM
Mason County Senior Activities Center, 190 W Sentry Dr, Shelton
Sound Learning's annual spelling bee, silent auction, and fundraiser — costumes encouraged, dessert/appetizer buffet on hand, balloon pop for prizes. Proceeds support adult education programs in Mason County.
Quilcene Brinnon Garden Club
Plant & Bake Sale
May 23 - 24, 10 - 4 PM
Brinnon Community Center 306144 Hwy 101, Brinnon
Memorial Day Observances
Monday, May 25
Local cemeteries and memorials throughout Mason County. Communities throughout the Fjord pause to honor those who gave their lives in service. Watch local papers and KMAS for ceremony times and locations.
Olympic Paranormal-Psy Fest 2026
Friday & Saturday, May 29-30
151 E Columbia St, Quilcene
Whether you're a seasoned investigator or simply intrigued by the mysteries of the world, Psy Fest offers something unforgettable. Discover new tools and insights, and experience Olympic Peninsula's paranormal landscape. olympicparanormalpsyfest.com
An internationally recognized Disc Golf Pro Tour (DGPT) event. Top professional players in the world compete for a title — right in your backyard. Spectators welcome.
BURGER BASKET
Mason County Forest Festival
Friday – Sunday, May 29–31
Throughout Shelton
For OVER 80 years, Mason County Forest Festival has celebrated our rich forest traditions. The week-long event includes the Grand Parade, carnival, Logger's Playday, the crowning of the Forest Festival Royalty, and more community gatherings than you can count. The whole town shows up.
Goldsborough Creek Run & Walk
Saturday, May 30
Shelton Valley – Shelton Post Office
Coordinated by the Centennial Guild — proceeds support a medical scholarship in memory of Kristi Armstrong. Register at runsignup.com or pick up forms at Anytime Fitness, Shelton YMCA, or Shelton Athletic Club.
Humane Society of Mason County 15th
Annual Dinner & Auction
Saturday, May 30, 5 PM 91 W State Route 108, Shelton hsmcwa.org
JUNE
Sheriff Luncheon at the Fjord Oyster Bank
Friday, June 5, 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM 24341 U.S. 101 Hoodsport
Hood Canal Salmon Run 5k
Saturday, June 6,
Salmon Center, 600 NE Roessel Rd, Belfair
Family-friendly run and walk along estuary trails and an annual fundraiser supporting the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group and youth environmental education programs. Register: pnwsalmoncenter.org
WA State Parks Free Fishing Weekend!
Saturday, June 6, 2026 Sunday June 7
Free days apply only to day use (not overnight stays or rented facilities).
Business After Hours
Wednesday, June 10, 5 – 7 PM
Mason County (host TBA) Drop in to connect with fellow Chamber members, local business owners, leaders, elected officials, and friends.
Explore the Fjord Summer Camp
Fridays, July 10 - August 14, 9-3 PM
Salmon Center, 600 NE Roessel Rd, Belfair
An outdoor program for ages 12–16 that connects participants to the Hood Canal watershed
through guided adventures like kayaking, hiking, tidepool exploration, and hands-on learning about shellfish and local ecosystems. HCSEG provides transportation from the Salmon Center to adventures around the Hood Canal watershed! Registration: pnwsalmoncenter
Brass Screw Consortium Steampunk Festival
June 12–14, Port Townsend
Join the Brass Screw Consortium for a whimsical celebration of a Victorian history that never was. brass-screw.org
Old Time Fiddlers Club Camp Out
June 12-14
294952 Hwy 101, Quilcene
Free breakfast and music for the public. Bring an instrument and play along or just enjoy the sounds. Camping is in the county park next to the Community Center. bit.ly/quilcamp
Catalyst Park Workshops: Sweet Potatoes
Saturday, June 13, 10-12PM
799 W Harvard Ave, Shelton,
Free take home kit for the first 20 registrants! $1, register: my.cheddarup.com/c/2026cgworkshops.
Fjordin Crossin and Paddle the Canal
Saturday, June 13, 11:00 AM-3:00 PM
Port of Hoodsport, Hoodsport
Family-friendly waterfront event celebrating the release of Hardware Distillery's "Dill Aquavit" in conjunction with a crossing of over 200 paddlers. Don't miss out on oysters from Fjord Oyster Bank, children's activities and 20+ vendors while cheering on our local Vikings arriving to Hoodsport's dock on their custom-made ship! Watch the Sons of Norway and Scandinavian fiddlers lead the sidewalk parade. Bring your watercraft or rent a kayak to compete across the Canal. fjordincrossin.com
Gravel Unravel Bon Jon Pass Out Gravel Bike Races
Saturday, June 13 , 151 E Columbia St, Quilcene
Endurance bicycle series on the gravel roads of Olympic National Forest. Details at peninsulaadventuresports.com/events/gravel-unravel.
Second Saturdays at Bayshore: Prairies & Pollinators
Saturday, June 13, 10 AM – 12 PM
Bayshore 3800 WA-3, Shelton
Capitol Land Trust hosts this free, guided outing through Bayshore's prairie habitat.
R2AK Ruckus
Saturday, June 13, 3 PM–7 PM Northwest Maritime Center 431 Water Street, Port Townsend
Check out the Race to Alaska race boats on the hard, get great food and drinks, and dance it up with great music. r2ak.com
Flag Day
Sunday, June 14
Mason County Town Hall
June 15, 6-8 PM 81 North Finch Creek Road, Hoodsport
An evening of community and conversation with local elected officials State Senator Drew MacEwen, State Representatives Dan Griffey and Travis Couture, Sheriff Ryan Spurling, Commissioner Pat Tarzwell, Judge David Stevens, Judge George Steele, and Prosecutor Michael Dorcy. All are welcome!
Septic Summer Maintenance Workshop
June 18 | Matlock
Join WSU Extension and Mason County Environmental Health to learn about proper septic system maintenance. Registration: mcsepticsummer2026.eventbrite.com
Ask a Master Gardener at McLendon's
June, 20, 11AM -2PM Scott McLendon's Hardware, Belfair
Bring all your home gardening questions! Bring plant or insect samples in containers.
Brinnon Shrimpfest
Saturday, June 20, 10 - 5:00 PM 20 Brinnon Ln, Brinnon Entrance is free for all attendees with food, live music, activities. brinnonshrimpfest.com
Timber Forest Artists Market
June 20, 10:00 – 4:00 PM 9572 Rhody Dr., Chimacum Artists and crafters offering unique and exciting items. If you are interested in joining this market contact Karen at 317-847-6484.
Take Dad fishing, oyster picking, paddling, or out for a meal with a view. Many resorts and restaurants run Father's Day specials.
Farm Stewards Summer Camp Tuesdays and Thursdays
June 23 - August 13, 9 - 1PM
The Salmon Center, Belfair
An outdoor, hands-on program for ages 7–11 where campers explore gardens, meet farm animals, and engage with nature. Participants learn about gardening, water systems, environmental science, salmon, and habitat restoration.Registration: pnwsalmoncenter.org
MotoAmerica Superbikes Race
June 26 – June 28
1060 West Eells Hill Road Shelton
With food, drinks, live entertainment, and activities for all ages- there’s something for everyone! Tickets at www.ridgetickets.com
Mason County Bike Rodeo & Safety Day
Saturday, June 27
Mason County
Bring the kids and their bikes for a morning of safety lessons, helmet checks, obstacle courses, and giveaways. Free family event.
From our farm to your table.
Proudly serving:
Potlatch Brewery Co.
Stottle Winery
Finnriver Cider
Sea Nymph Oysters
Blue Star Coffee
– and the culinary creations of Chef Xinh Dwelley
Stop by for FREE maps, Fjord Magazine, and local concierge service. Located across from the Hoodsport Fish Hatchery on Hwy 101.
Thursday -Saturday 10 – 8
Sunday 10-6
Breakfast burritos, coffee & ice cream served all day; full menu opens at noon.
JULY
Grill & Chill Saturdays!
Mike's Beach Resort, Lilliwaup
Live music from 7 - 9 PM. Open to the public with burgers, dogs and brews! Pet friendly, on a leash.
July 4: OMA (Country and More!)
July 11: Chris Eakes (Live Requests)
July 18: Hogue & Keen
July 25: Sean Curkendall
Sheriff Luncheon at Fjord Oyster Bank
Friday, July 3, 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Fjord Oyster Bank, 24341 US-101, Hoodsport
Monthly lunch on the canal with the Mason County Sheriff's office.
Concerts in the Barn
July 3-5 2 PM, 7360 Center Road, Quilcene Free, concertsinthebarn.org
Independence Day Celebrations
Saturday, July 4
Allyn, Union, Hoodsport, Shelton, and beyond Communities all along the Canal celebrate the 4th. Allyn typically hosts a parade and waterfront festivities; watch for fireworks at Alderbrook and other waterfront venues. Check tracingthefjord. com and KMAS for the latest schedule.
Community Picnic
July 4, 151 E Columbia St, Quilcene
Hosted by Quilcene Lions, Masonic Lodge and VFW at Worthington.
Shelton Chamber Business After Hours
Wednesday, July 8, 5 – 7 PM
Bluegrass From The Forest
July 10 – July 12
2100 East Johns Prairie Road Shelton
The outdoor festival features four major concerts throughout the three days highlighting top talent from across the nation. The music ranges from traditional bluegrass to the more progressive styles. Tickets start at just $20/ entire weekend $55. KIDS free or discounted depending on age. Camping on site just $15/night! bluegrassfromtheforest.com
Concerts in the Barn
July 10-12 2 PM, 7360 Center Road, Quilcene Free, concertsinthebarn.org
Catalyst Park Workshops: Garlic
Saturday, July 11, 10-12PM
799 W Harvard Ave, Shelton
Free take home kit for the first 20 registrants! $15 my.cheddarup.com/c/2026cgworkshops
Septic Summer Maintenance Workshop
July 16, Hoodsport
WSU Extension and Mason County Environmental Health share proper septic system maintenance. mcsepticsummer2026. eventbrite.com
Concerts in the Barn
July 17-19, 2 PM
7360 Center Road, Quilcene Free, concertsinthebarn.org
Expo & Bite of Mason County Street Fair
Friday July 17, 11:30 AM - 6:30 PM
Railroad Avenue, Shelton
Railroad Avenue transforms into a high-energy block party — vendors, interactive activities, raffles, and affordable bites from local restaurants. Vote for the Best Booth and Golden Fork awards. FREE admission and parking.
ALLYN DAYS: Salmon Bake & Geoduck Festival
July 17-19 | Allyn
A weekend packed with delicious seafood, exciting activities, live entertainment, and fun for the whole family (including pets)!
Timber Forest Artists Market
July 18, 10:00 – 4:00 PM
9572 Rhody Dr., Chimacum
Artists and crafters offering unique and exciting items! If you are interested in joining the market contact Karen Robinson at 317847-6484.
Ask a Master Gardener at McLendon's July, 18, 11AM -2PM
Scott McLendon's Hardware, Belfair
Bring all your home gardening questions! Bring plant or insect samples in containers.
Theler Native Gardens: Soil Health
July 19, 12PM - 3PM
Mary E. Theler Wetlands, Belfair, Volunteer with Master Gardeners and hear a talk on the topic of the day
Stand-Up Paddle Board Yoga Workshop
Sunday, July 19, 10 E Alderbrook Dr, Union
A yoga workshop on the water — paddleboard yoga at Alderbrook, with the Olympics rising behind you. Reservations through the resort.
Peace Love Union
Saltwater Songwriters Festival
July 23-25
Robin Hood Village Resort, Union
An acoustic listening festival featuring acclaimed songwriters sharing their craft in a dedicated listening environment.
Grapeview Art & Water Festival
Saturday, July 25, 10 AM – 5 PM
Fair Harbor Marina, 5050 Grapeview Loop Rd, Grapeview.This waterfront festival offers inspiring arts & crafts, music, booths, and fun activities for the whole family.
Shelton Art Walk 2026
Saturday, July 25, 12 – 6 PM
Visit the Art Market on Cota Street, featuring 80+ artists, crafters, and food trucks, and enjoy live music, performances, and hands-on art activities throughout the day. The theme of the 2026 Shelton Art Walk is FROLIC.
Hood Canal Kiwanis Pickleball Tournament
Saturday, July 25
Lake Cushman Pickleball Courts
All are welcome to join and play for a cause! Questions? Email info@hoodcanalkiwanis.org
Summer Vacation Bible School
July 27--31, 6:00-8:30 PM
81 N Finch Creek Rd, Hoodsport hoodcanalcommunitychurch.com
Ice Cream Social at the Museum
Thursday, July 30, 4-6 PM
151 E Columbia St, Quilcene
AUGUST
Grill & Chill Saturdays!
Mike's Beach Resort, Lilliwaup
Live music from 7 - 9 PM. Open to the public with burgers, dogs and brews! Pet friendly.
August 1:Chris Eakes (Live Request Show)
August 8: Kitty Mae (Current & Classic Country)
August 15: Sean Curkendall (Piano Vocalist)
August 22: OMA (Country and More!)
August 29: DNA Duo (Soulful Blues-Rock)
Catalyst Park Workshops: Soil Blocking and Winter Gardening
Saturday, August 8, 10-12PM
799 W Harvard Ave, Shelton my.cheddarup.com/c/2026cgworkshops.
Septic Summer Maintenance Workshop
August 13| Belfair
mcsepticsummer2026.eventbrite.com
Hoodstock Music Festival
August 14-15 | Union
Immersive three day music floating and land based festival featuring a fantastic line up of bands and solo singers a well as artists, vendors and hands-on opportunities. hoodstock.org
MoonFest celebrates 50 years
Friday – Saturday, August 14–15
260 Munn Road, Quilcene
MoonFest gathers folks in a secluded woodland, lakefront setting near Quilcene. Quality classic music, classic cars of the era, camping, vendors, and new friends. moon-fest.com
Ask a Master Gardener at McLendon's
August 15, 11AM -2PM
Scott McLendon's Hardware, Belfair
Peninsula Logging Show
Saturday, August 15
251 Hjelvicks Road, Brinnon
A FREE, family-friendly day celebrating logging heritage, hard work, and community. Bring the kids, bring your friends, and experience one of the Peninsula’s favorite summer traditions.
Art Walk 2026
JULY 25, 12-6 PM |
DOWNTOWN SHELTON
Part of the Downtown Shelton Creative District, this annual event celebrates art and creativity across our community. Experience the vibrant work of local artists and vendors—from paintings and sculpture to live performances and handmade goods. Stroll through downtown Shelton as participating businesses transform into pop-up galleries featuring visual art, installations, and demonstrations.
The 2026 Shelton Art Walk is a fullday celebration on Saturday, July 25, from 12 pm to 6 pm. Visit the Art Market on Cota Street, featuring 80+ artists, crafters, and food trucks, and enjoy live music, performances, and hands-on art activities throughout the day.
The theme of the 2026 Shelton Art Walk is FROLIC.
This year’s theme draws inspiration from the spirited gatherings of the Olympus Manor artist colony on
Hood Canal in the 1920s, led by artist and teacher Orre Nobles. Artists, writers, and creatives gathered in costume for lively events known as the “Kit-Kat Frolics,” celebrating creativity, playfulness, and artistic community.
Artist, Vendor & Performer applications are open through May 30th We are also looking for Sponsors and Food Trucks! Applications and event information can be found at SheltonArtWalk.com. You won’t want to miss this event!
Chalk the Walks
Tuesday, August 18
Throughout Shelton & Mason County
Spend ten minutes outside writing an uplifting message in chalk on your sidewalk, driveway, or parking lot. A small gesture that makes the whole town a little cheerier. chalkthewalks.com
Theler Native Gardens: Volunteer August 19, 12pm-3pm
Mary E. Theler Wetlands, Belfair,
Ice Cream Social at the Museum
Thursday, August 20, 4-6 PM
151 E Columbia St, Quilcene
Chamber Annual Golf Tournament
Friday, August 21, 9 AM shotgun start
330 E Country Club Dr, Union Eighteen holes on Alderbrook's spectacular waterfront course. Foursome scramble format with hole sponsors handing out goodies, food, and prizes. Sponsorships and team registrations at masonchamber.com/golf.
Third Annual Tarboo Music Festival
August 21-22
7360 Center Road, Quilcene.
Visit quilcenelantern.com/Tarboo for artist line up and ticket information.
UpUpUp Crane Truck Circus
Sunday August 30, 6 PM
Quilcene Fair & Parade
September 19, Parade at 11 AM Downtown Quilcene, Quilcenefair.org
Quilcene Oyster Races
Sunday, September 20
151 E Columbia St, Quilcene
OysterFest
October 3-4, Shelton | oysterfest.org
Quilcene Fiber Festival
Saturday October 10, 10 AM-4 PM
151 E Columbia St, Quilcene
An Afternoon with Local Artists
Sunday, November 8: 2-4 PM
151 E Columbia St, Quilcene
Whiskers in the Green: Sea Lions & Harbor Seals of the Salish Sea
Story & Pictures | Thom Robbins
THOM ROBBINS is a seasoned diver, underwater photographer, and author with a deep passion for the Pacific Northwest and its marine life. With over thirty years of diving experience, Thom has spent countless hours beneath the surface, documenting the mysterious beauty of wolf eels, octopuses, and nudibranchs as well as seals and sealions. His underwater videos and photographs bring the hidden world of the Salish Sea to life, captivating both online and print audiences. He is a regular contributor to the Fjord.
There are dives where the water gives you exactly what you came for. You drop into Hood Canal with a camera and find plumose anemones blooming from pilings like pale chandeliers. You descend at Sund Rock hoping for wolf eels and get lucky enough to find one peering from its den, green eyes steady as old glass. You head north toward the San Juan Islands and drift past walls dressed in kelp, watching rockfish hold themselves in a current stronger than it looks – Then there are dives where the water decides otherwise.
I had my camera aimed at a sculpin no longer than my thumb, trying to frame the shot before it bolted. I felt a light tug on my fin. Not hard, just enough to make me turn. Behind me hovered a young sea lion, suspended in the green water like a dog that had just stolen a sock. It let go, rolled once, then blasted away in a trail of bubbles before circling back to see if I had learned the rules.
Another time, I was focused on a nudibranch inching across a piling when I sensed movement beside my mask. A harbor seal had drifted in so quietly it seemed to arrive fully formed. It hovered over my shoulder, staring at the same sea slug I was photographing as if it had concerns about my composition.
That is part of the magic. Sea lions and harbor seals often feel less like wildlife you happen to encounter and more like curious neighbors checking in on what you are doing.
For many people, above the surface, sea lions and seals blur together. Both are sleek marine mammals with whiskered faces, dark eyes, and the unnerving ability to look adorable and deeply competent at the same time. Both haul out on rocks, beaches, docks, and floating logs around the Salish Sea. Both vanish into the water with enviable grace. But spend any real time with them, especially underwater, and their differences become obvious.
They are among the most charismatic animals in Pacific Northwest waters, and they know it, playful, intelligent, and efficient predators closely tied to the health of this inland sea. When one appears on a dive, the whole mood lifts. The easiest way to tell them apart begins with the ears.
Sea lions have visible external ear flaps. Harbor seals do not. If you can clearly see little ears on the side of the head, chances are you are looking at a sea lion. If the head appears smoother and rounder, you are likely looking at a harbor seal.
That is the quick version. The better version comes with watching. Sea lions are built for swagger and noise. Longer, louder, and more theatrical, they carry themselves like animals aware of their own presence. In the Salish Sea, the two species most people encounter are California sea lions and Steller sea lions. California sea lions are the familiar barkers of docks and buoys, energetic, vocal, and often piled
on top of one another in noisy heaps. Steller sea lions are larger, heavier, and impressive enough that the first one you see underwater can feel less like wildlife and more like weather moving toward you.
Sea lions belong to the eared seal family and use their large front flippers almost like wings. They can rotate their rear flippers beneath them, allowing them to move on land with surprising confidence. On haul-outs, they bark, posture, shove, and argue like a committee meeting with no chairperson.
In the water, all of that bulk becomes grace. They become pure athletes. They bank, roll, accelerate, stop, and reverse direction with the kind of ease that makes a diver feel assembled from spare parts. I have watched sea lions streak past so close I could see old scars across their hides, whiskers swept back flat against their faces. Then, with one effortless turn, they were gone.
Young sea lions are often the comedians. They blow bubbles in your face, dart in close only to veer away at the last second, grab at loose fins, hoses, or hoods, and return repeatedly to see whether you have become more entertaining since the last pass. They remind you that intelligence and mischief often travel together.
Harbor seals move through the world differently. They are smaller, rounder, and quieter, with large dark eyes and faces that can look permanently thoughtful. On land, they move with a soft-bodied undulation, unable to rotate their rear flippers beneath them as sea lions do. In the water, however, they become sleek and efficient, propelled by smooth movements of the hind body and rear flippers.
Where sea lions often announce themselves, harbor seals simply appear. You scan the water column, and suddenly one is there, suspended just beyond your bubbles, watching with calm interest. Then another. Then emptiness again.
They move with a composed self-possession, less interested in spectacle than observation. If sea lions are the extroverts of the pinniped world, harbor seals are the thoughtful introverts who miss nothing.
Color can help, though nature loves exceptions. Harbor seals often wear mottled coats in shades of gray, silver, tan, or brown, marked with spots or rings. Sea lions tend to be more uniformly colored, usually darker brown to tan, with smoother-looking coats.
Behavior is often the fastest clue. Sea lions are more likely to race in, circle, blow bubbles, tug at fins, and treat a diver like an unexpected toy. Harbor seals are more likely to hover nearby, inspect you carefully, and drift close enough to make eye contact before slipping away. Both reward patience. Neither should be chased. The best encounters happen when you stay calm and let them decide the distance.
For all their playfulness, both live demanding lives shaped by weather, tides, predators, and the constant need to eat enough in cold water.
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Whether you need a quick fix or work on a big project, at
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Harbor seals are year-round residents throughout much of the Salish Sea. They haul out on beaches, mudflats, rocks, floating logs, and quiet shorelines to rest, molt, warm themselves, and give birth. Their pups enter a world that expects competence from an early age. Many can swim within hours of birth, though they still rely heavily on their mothers for milk, protection, and guidance. In the wild, harbor seals can live 25 to 30 years, long enough to know these shorelines well.
A mother harbor seal with a pup is one of the more memorable sights these waters offer. The pup stays close, surfacing beside her, learning quickly in a place where hesitation can be expensive. Bald eagles, currents, storms, disturbance, and predators do not grant many second chances.
Sea lions use the Salish Sea somewhat differently depending on species and season. California sea lions are often seasonal visitors, especially males that move north after breeding farther south. Steller sea lions maintain a broader regional presence and use haul-out sites to rest between feeding trips. Their rookeries, where breeding occurs, are generally outside the central Salish Sea, but individuals are common enough visitors that they feel like part of the neighborhood. Sea lions can live 20 to 30 years, when the ocean allows it.
Young sea lions seem born with mischief already installed. Juveniles are often the ones most interested in divers, boats, docks, and anything unfamiliar. Curiosity likely helps them develop the speed, coordination, and confidence they will need as adult hunters. Both sea lions and harbor seals feed primarily on fish and squid, taking advantage of whatever is seasonally abundant. Herring, salmon, smelt, sand lance, and other small fish that travel in schools make up much of their diet.
A healthy prey base supports not just seals and sea lions, but seabirds, larger fish, whales, and the broader ecosystem around them.
Watching one hunt underwater changes how you think of them. The softness many people notice from shore gives way to speed, precision, and purpose. A harbor seal that looked sleepy on a log can turn into a torpedo the moment fish appear, reaching speeds of around 15 miles per hour in a burst. A sea lion that spent the morning barking on a buoy can cut through a bait ball with athletic brutality, capable of pushing closer to 25 miles per hour when it decides to move.
They are not pets of the sea. They are predators built by cold water and hunger.
They are also exquisitely adapted to the environment. A thick layer of blubber insulates them from temperatures that send divers scrambling for dry gloves and thicker undergarments. Their blood carries oxygen efficiently. During dives, heart rates can slow, and blood flow can be prioritized to essential organs. Harbor seals can remain underwater for 20 to 30 minutes, sea lions closer to 10 to 15. By the time you start wondering where they went, they are already behind you again.
Even their whiskers are remarkable. Those stiff facial whiskers, called vibrissae, help detect movement and turbulence in the water. In simple terms, they can help read the traces left behind by prey. Long after a fish has passed, the water may still be telling on it. Spend enough time diving here, and you begin to recognize personalities. There was a harbor seal at Sund Rock last year that would appear near the safety stop almost every few dives, never close enough to touch, always close enough to study. It seemed to favor staying just outside arm’s reach, rotating slowly to keep one eye on me.
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If I looked away, it drifted closer. If I looked back too quickly, it retreated a few feet. We repeated this silent negotiation several times over the season. A juvenile sea lion in the San Juans once became fascinated with the reflection in my dome port. It rammed the water in front of it repeatedly, then barked underwater, a strange muffled burst that vibrated more than sounded. When that failed to solve whatever problem it had with its own reflection, it sped off and returned with two companions, as though expert consultation was required.
Moments like that are funny, but they also reveal something deeper. These are social, aware, inquisitive animals navigating complicated worlds.
In the ocean, relationships are rarely simple. Sea lions and harbor seals are loved by people who watch them from beaches, ferries, marinas, kayaks, and shorelines. A whiskered face rising beside a boat can improve a day in seconds. Tourists point. Locals smile despite themselves. Children lose all composure.
To divers, they can feel like temporary companions. I have had harbor seals mirror my movements for minutes at a time. I have had sea lions thread themselves through my exhaled bubbles as if I were some new underwater fountain installed for their amusement. I have had one repeatedly swim behind me and look over my shoulder every time I tried to photograph something on the reef, apparently determined to supervise.
But friendship, in the human sense, is not really the point. Curiosity is. These animals investigate their world constantly, and sometimes we happen to be in it. Their enemies are more serious. Bigg’s killer whales, the mammal-hunting orca often seen in the Salish Sea, prey on seals, sea lions, and other marine mammals. When they are nearby, haul-outs can empty quickly, and behavior can change in an instant. What looked lazy a moment ago becomes alertness distilled.
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HAMA HAMA OYSTER FARM
Cove RV Park & Country Store 303075 US-101, Brinnon · (360) 796-4723
Why we love them: Charming store, great location, friendly staff What they offer: Groceries and gift items.
Why we love them: to take home. Selection of vintage sweaters. What they offer: clothing (both new and vintage), hand crafted woodwork, candles, soaps, books.
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Large sharks are less common here than in some coastal regions, but remain part of the broader marine story. Disease, storms, and scarcity also take their toll. Human impacts are often the more persistent challenge. Entanglement in fishing gear, marine debris, vessel disturbance, pollution, shoreline development, and depleted prey stocks can all affect populations. Even well-meaning people can cause stress by crowding haul-outs, separating mothers and pups, or forcing animals into the water.
The best wildlife viewing leaves wildlife unbothered. Give hauled-out animals space. Keep dogs back. Use binoculars instead of footsteps. On the water, slow down when needed and avoid forcing animals to react to your presence. Underwater, never corner or pursue them.
If they want to meet you, they will make that clear quickly. And when they do, it is hard to forget. There are flashier creatures in the Salish Sea. Giant Pacific octopus carry myth with them.
Wolf eels look imagined. Nudibranchs seem painted by someone unwilling to choose only one color. Salmon carry the weight of economies and cultures. Orca arrive with instant gravity. But sea lions and harbor seals possess something rarer: personality visible at a glance.
You see it in the harbor seal hovering inches away, whiskers forward, deciding what to make of you. You see it in the sea lion that rockets in from nowhere, steals a playful tug at your fin, and vanishes before you can laugh into your regulator.
You see it in the animal that watches you watch the sea. For those of us lucky enough to dive here, they become part of the rhythm of these waters. Never guaranteed, never scheduled, always hoped for. Every diver knows the feeling of surfacing after one of those encounters.
You climb back onto shore or boat, smiling harder than the conditions deserved. The water may have been cold, the visibility poor, the current annoying, the camera stubborn.
None of that matters now. Because for a few minutes, something wild invited you into its day. And in the green waters of the Salish Sea, that remains one of its finest gifts.
Legends of the Forest MASON COUNTY FOREST FESTIVAL
May 28-May 31 | Sheltion & surrounding
MAY 16 | HOODSPORT Sawdust, Stumps & Seashells:
MAY 22 - MAY 31 | GROVE & FIRST Carnival: Fun rides, games, fair food
MAY 30, 6:30 AM | RAILROAD AVE Goldsborough Creek Run
MAY 30, 7 - 11 AM | 122 W FRANKLIN FIRE STATION Pancake Breakfast
MAY 30, 11 AM | RAILROAD AVE Paul Bunyan Grand Parade
MAY 30, 1 PM | LOOP FIELD Vendors & Logging Show
MAY 30, 6 PM | OURCU, OLYMPIC HWY N Rockin' The Forest: Live music
MAY 30, 10-3 PM | SHELTON UPTOWN Fireworks Show
MAY 31, 9-3 PM | OLYMPIC HWY N NJROTC Shelton Car Show Off
July 12, 11 AM | 222 W Pine, Shelton Royalty Tea at the Colonial House
Fjordin Crossin
Along the western edge of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, the road bends gently around a stretch of water so dramatic it feels borrowed from another continent. Mist hangs low over evergreen hillsides. Oyster shells crunch underfoot near weathered docks. Bald eagles circle overhead while the tide slips quietly through narrow inlets framed by cedar and fir. This is Hood Canal — though despite its name, it is not a canal at all.
When explorer George Vancouver charted the area in 1792, he mistakenly labeled it a canal. What he had actually encountered was something far rarer: the only true fjord in the contiguous United States.
Carved by glaciers thousands of years ago, Hood Canal plunges to depths exceeding 600' in places, its steep forested walls and saltwater currents giving it the same geological features as the famed fjords of Norway and Alaska. And every summer, the waterfront town of Hoodsport leans into Nordic connection with one of the Pacific Northwest’s most delightfully eccentric celebrations: Fjordin Crossin.
Part kayak festival, part Scandinavian homage, and part small-town beach party, the event has evolved into a beloved tradition where aquavit barrels sail across the fjord, paddlers skim over cold saltwater, and accordion music drifts through town alongside the scent of grilling oysters.
At the center of it all is The Hardware Distillery, the craft distillery founded by Jan and Chuck Morris. Over the lat two decades the distillery has become known for its small-batch spirits crafted with Washington-grown ingredients and glacier-fed water flowing from the nearby Olympic Mountains.
background
Seven years ago, inspired by the centuries-old Scandinavian tradition of Linie aquavit — a spirit historically aged during long sea voyages — Chuck and Jan decided Hood Canal deserved its own version of the ritual. In Norway, barrels of aquavit famously cross the equator and return transformed by months of rolling ocean travel. In Hoodsport, the journey is shorter but no less spirited: a barrel of dill aquavit is ceremoniously launched across Hood Canal from Hoodsport toward Tahuya and back again. What began as a playful nod to Nordic heritage has grown into one of the canal’s signature summer gatherings.
Fjordin Crossin & Paddle the Canal
Saturday, June 13, 11-3:00 PM
Port of Hoodsport, Hoodsport Free to attend
Today, Fjordin Crossin transforms Hoodsport’s marina waterfront park into a lively festival layered with Scandinavian flair and Northwest charm.
The centerpiece is the Paddle the Canal Challenge, hosted by Hood Canal Events, where kayakers, paddleboarders, canoes, and small sailboats follow the aquavit barrel across the fjord in a colorful flotilla of non-motorized craft. Some competitors arrive in sleek touring kayaks; others paddle in costume, leaning fully into the event’s Viking spirit.
Participants can bring their own boats or rent kayaks from local outfitter Hood Canal Adventures right at the beach. This year’s timed paddle includes a knit cap for racers, with reasonable early-bird registration rates for families and casual adventurers alike.
But Fjordin Crossin is as much about gathering on shore as it is crossing the water. By late morning, the marina fills with local artisans, oyster vendors, craft booths, and families wandering between beach games and live music. A walking parade heralds the beginning of the ceremonies as fiddlers, accordion players, and participants dressed in Scandinavian attire escort the barrel toward the dock.
the launch
As the barrel begins its symbolic voyage across Hood Canal, spectators line the waterfront cheering paddlers into the water. Nearby, the Aquavit Garden pours cocktails featuring herbaceous aquavit, local wines, and craft beer. The salty air smells faintly of smoked seafood, evergreen forests, and citrus peels crushed into summer drinks.
after-Tide gathering
Eventually, as the tide come in, the celebration shifts inland. The party migrates naturally into Hoodsport where tasting rooms, galleries, breweries, and restaurants keep festivities rolling into the evening. The festival carries the easy authenticity of a community celebrating the place it loves most — equal parts quirky, maritime, and deeply rooted in local identity. And while the aquavit barrel may be symbolic, the pride behind it is not.
For one weekend each year, Hood Canal embraces its identity as America’s hidden fjord — a place where Nordic traditions feel surprisingly at home beneath Douglas firs. In Hoodsport, Fjordin Crossin isn’t simply a festival. It’s a love letter to the fjord itself.
Cameo Boutique
Cameo Boutique has moved to our new location at Union Square on Dalby Road. Resort wear, Gourmet Foods, Apparel Jewelry, Unique Gifts,
Patches - Hoodsport’s New Third Space
Third Space: a social environment outside of one’s first space (their home) and their second space (school or work). It represents an accessible community spot where people can connect informally and create community.
Mason Bonner & Maddy Sandoz see art in just about everything. Their new gallery space, “Patches,” located in Suite C of The Landing building in downtown Hoodsport next to Stottle Winery and Potlatch Brewing, is a representation of that exact idea.
Mason and Maddy feel that curating a vibe is an art form — from the layout and design, branding, and the music playing when you walk in. They both want to create an energy that tells those walking into the space that they can linger as long as they want, even if it is technically a gallery. People walking through the doors can take in the views of the Hood Canal, the art, have a drink and snack, or even sit and get work done — a true third space.
Mason and Maddy moved from Chicago in 2023 after starting a family and seeking a slower-paced lifestyle in nature away from the city. Maddy works in warehouse management as a consultant, and Mason works in music as an engineer specializing in mixing and mastering. They are both extremely creative in their spare time — Maddy designing spaces, upcycling clothing, and finding fun ways to reduce waste, and Mason producing music and building out creative spaces such as his property's music studio.
Having always wanted a retail space of their own, they came up with the name Patches due to the fact that they are stitching together so many different loves of theirs into one space.
This includes the cafe with coffee, the different artists and art forms, and a curated collection of wares for retail.
Patches artwork includes paintings, ink work, digital art, block prints, clothing and accessories, steel sculptures, and woodwork. With their goal to showcase obtainable art, there are pieces for anyone’s budget. Maddy has also curated a selection of secondhand lifestyle wares, all Olympic Peninsula and Washington-themed — kitchenware, clothing, pins, and postcards. They will serve an array of high-quality snacks, pour-over coffee from Mason’s brother’s roastery featuring a Hood Canal Blend and rotating single-origin coffee, canned beer, and non-alcoholic beverages.
Having a child themselves, Mason and Maddy intentionally created a family friendly space featuring toys and activities to allow kids to make art as well.
They are hosting an opening celebration on May 23, 12–6 PM, with some of the artists in attendance. After they plan to open Thursday through Monday with workshops, intimate concerts, exhibitions, and art shows.
Visit on social media, patchesartcafe or Patches Art Cafe on Facebook. Follow the process of running the space as well as view highlighted artists and artwork. Stop in person or follow along online for news, additions, and upcoming events Patches has planned.
Disc Golf Pro Tour's Cascade Challenge, May 29-31
Beneath the fir-lined fairways of Shelton Springs Disc Golf Course, the world’s best disc golfers will gather at the end of May for the Cascade Challenge, transforming the Huff & Puff trail system into an exciting national sporting destination. Located just across from the YMCA in Shelton, the course winds through dense forest.
For over 500 spectators, the weekend offers more than competition—it’s a chance to experience outdoors while watching elite athletes navigate wooded tunnels and technical greens. The Cascade Challenge has become a showcase for professional disc golf at its highest level, drawing over 200 players from around the country.
The course features a few open holes but primarily consists of tight lines carved through an evergreen forest – a quintessential Northwest disc golf course. Spectators stroll the shaded fairways, follow lead cards through the woods, and enjoy a sporting event unlike any traditional stadium experience. To learn more about the event, visit masoncountydiscgolf.com.
As a Shelton's former mayor I have delivered results for our community. As your commissioner I will bring that same dedication to all of Mason County. Honest and informed, I will do what is right, regardless of outside pressure. PAID FOR BY ERIC ONISKO
Tubal Cain Trail
Distance: 17.2 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 4000 feet
High Point: 6300 feet
Difficulty: difficult
Snow free: mid-June--November
Notes: Shorter and easier hikes can be made by following trail to Tull Canyon or Buckhorn Lake; Wilderness rules apply
TRACING THE TUBAL MARMOT PASS via Tubal Cain Trail
Story & Pictures | craig romano
CRAIG ROMANO is a prolific and award-winning author, an ardent conservationist, and a Northwest trails and hiking expert. He hikes, runs ultra-marathons, paddles, and bikes and has written for more than two dozen publications including Northwest Travel and Life and Washington Trails and Tracing the Fjord. He provides content for Hikeoftheweek.com and is co-host of the Washington State Hiking podcast. He lives in Skagit County, Washington, but he is most frequently out hiking or trail running somewhere, often accompanied by his wife, Heather, and son, Giovanni. Visit Craig online at craigromano.com.
Before the smoke gets here
WHAT
MASON COUNTY HOMEOWNERS CAN DO IN A WEEKEND TO MAKE THEIR PLACE HARDER TO BURN.
BY JEFF SLAKEY
The Olympic Peninsula doesn’t look like the places people picture when they think of wildfire. There’s the rain, the moss, and the cedars. But times have changed. The last handful of summers have been hotter and drier than the old averages, and fire districts across Mason County have spent those summers chasing brush fires that used to be rare.
Most of what actually protects a home from a wildfire is work that any property owner can do on a Saturday. Thankfully, it doesn’t require a contractor or a big budget. It just requires starting before the smoke is in the air.
There are national and state programs that offer help and advice. One is Firewise USA, a program from the National Fire Protection Association. They break the area around a house into three zones. The Immediate Zone is the first five feet. The Intermediate Zone runs from 5' to 30' out.
The Extended Zone covers 30' to 100'.
The priority order matters. The first 5 feet is where a home is most likely to catch, and it’s also where most homeowners have the easiest wins.
In that first 5 feet, the idea is to keep houses from catching fire from a flying ember. That means clean gutters and roof valleys, bark mulch pulled back from the siding, firewood stacks moved somewhere else, and no piles of dry leaves tucked into the corners where the porch meets the wall.
Crushed stone or gravel is a better choice than bark right up against the foundation. Homeowners who want a little color there can use low, well-watered plants rather than anything resinous like juniper or arborvitae. The 5 to 30-foot zone is where pruning pays off. Branches that overhang the roof or the deck are a direct path for fire, and the lower 6 to 10 feet of large tree trunks should generally be clear of smaller limbs. Breaking up solid runs of brush into smaller groupings gives a fire less to work with.
It’s not clear-cutting lots; the goal is to slow a fire down, not erase the forest. Out past 30 feet, it’s mostly about density. Thin the understory, keep the grass cut through the dry months, and haul off the slash rather than leaving it in piles near structures.
For the hauling part, West Mason Fire, Mason Conservation District, and the Washington Department of Natural Resources are running Wildfire Ready Dumpster Days again this year. Residents can drop off grass clippings, brush, leaves, weeds, bark mulch, and branches up to 10' long and 8"across. This year’s dates are May 16 and May 30 at 4650 West Dayton Airport Rd, and June 6 at the Skokomish Grange, 2320 West Skokomish Valley Road. Food waste, construction debris, dirt and rock, and chemically treated wood are not accepted.
The state also offers a free in-person option. The Wildfire Ready Neighbors program, run by DNR in partnership with Mason Conservation District and local fire districts, sends a trained expert out to walk the property and help build a plan. The plan is made for the specific home and lot and accounts for budget, lifestyle, and what the owner is actually willing to maintain. Sign-up is at WildfireReady.com or 1-877-WA-READY. Spanish-language sign-up is available at ListosParaIncendios.com.
A final but important piece is the family plan. Knowing two ways out of the neighborhood, if possible. A plan for the pets, the livestock, and the paperwork that would be hard to replace. Also, an insurance checkup and a home inventory were saved on the phone. The kinds of things that are easier to do in May than in August. Wildfire in Mason County isn’t a certainty in any given summer, but it’s starting to look that way. It’s a risk, and it’s a manageable one. Get in touch with your local fire district for more information and help on where to start.
Washington State Parks Discover Pass FREE Days in 2026
June 6-7
Free Fishing Weekend
Friday, June 19
Juneteenth
Sunday, Aug. 9
Smokey Bear’s birthday
Saturday, Sept. 26
National Public Lands Day
Saturday, Oct. 10
World Mental Health Day
Wednesday, Nov. 11
Veterans Day
Olympic National Park
2026 free entrance:
May 25: Memorial Day
June 14: Flag Day
July 3–5
Independence Day
August 25: 110th Birthday
National Park Service
September 17
Constitution Day
October 27: Theodore Roosevelt's birthday
November 11: Veterans Day
Experience America’s Semi-Quincentennial
Mason County is set to bring history vividly to life with its annual Forest Festival, May 28-31, embracing this year’s theme, Legends of the Timber. One exhibit during this weekend offers a unique window into colonial America while honoring a milestone moment in the nation’s story—the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, known as America’s semi-quincentennial.
From the lively parade to immersive, hands-on exhibits hosted by America 250 visitors to the Mason County Forest Festival will find themselves stepping back in time. Explore everyday life as it was some 250 years ago, from the realities of soldiering to the rhythms of family life in the colonial era. Sign your name to a replica of the Declaration of Independence, try your hand at traditional colonial games, and learn about the essential role of honey bees in early American communities.
Storytelling and visual displays bring revolutionary ideals into focus, while exhibits highlight figures such as Deborah Sampson, whose remarkable secret adds depth to the era’s narrative, connecting local heritage with the broader story of America’s founding. The display will be hosted Saturday, May 30 during the Loop Field activities including the logging show.
Attendees are encouraged to explore additional opportunities to engage with history.
From visiting local museums and historical societies to discovering national parks or attending special events like Museum Day on August 8, there are countless ways to reflect on the past 250 years. Whether contributing to a day of service, exploring exhibits such as Moments That Made Us or Out of Many— One, or simply discovering a new piece of local history, Mason County’s Forest Festival serves as both a celebration of the past and an invitation to help shape the future.
Shelton Art Walk
FEATURED ARTIST: MAR CROMWELL
July 25, 2026 12:00-6:00pm Downtown Shelton
This year, the Shelton Art Walk invites the community to Frolic!
Join us in a celebration of creative joy by welcoming local artists, crafters, performers & delicious food vendors.
Saturday, July 25 promises to be one of those classic Pacific Northwest summer days made for gathering by the water. The annual Grapeview Water & Art Festival returns to Fair Harbor Marina inviting families, friends, and visitors to slow down, celebrate community, and enjoy summer along the shores of Case Inlet.
Set against the scenic backdrop of Grapeview Loop Road, the festival has become a beloved tradition that blends small-town charm with the creativity and generosity of the local community. Visitors can stroll the marina, listen to live music drifting across the docks, enjoy fresh summer food, and explore a vibrant collection of handcrafted artwork created by local artists. Best of all, admission to the festival is free.
The heart of the event is the bustling Art Corridor, where more than 40 carefully selected local artists will showcase original works spanning nine different artistic mediums. From jewelry and woodcraft to painting, pottery, and textiles, the festival offers an opportunity to meet artists directly and discover one-of-a-kind pieces inspired by the Northwest.
Festival-goers can also look forward to a menu full of favorites at the food court.
Community volunteers serve hamburgers, hotdogs, grilled cheese sandwiches, corn-on-the-cob, shrimp cocktail, tuna poke, and steamed clams donated by Taylor Shellfish. Cobblers, baked by members of the Grapeview Community Association, are a longtime crowd favorite and a sweet ending to a day on the waterfront.
Families with children will find plenty to explore throughout the day. The always-popular Children’s Craft Area will feature free hands-on activities including wooden boat and airplane building, jewelry making, baseball cap decorating, and face painting. Young anglers can also take part in the free Live Fishing Derby off the marina docks, with prizes awarded for categories ranging from “biggest catch” to “cutest fish.” Participants are encouraged to bring their own fishing poles and life jackets.
Adding to the festival’s easygoing summer spirit is the Free Garden Table, where both children and adults can pick up complimentary plants and seeds while learning about gardening, soils, and conservation. Nearby, laughter and friendly competition are sure to surround the “Hole-in-One” Golf Challenge, where participants attempt to drive golf balls toward a floating barge 50 yards offshore for prizes and bragging rights. Beyond the festivities, the event continues to serve a larger purpose within the community.
Proceeds from food sales and the golf challenge help fund scholarships, support Mason County public schools, and benefit local charitable organizations throughout the area.
The Grapeview Community Association and the Grapeview Water & Art Festival Advisory Committee credit the festival’s success to the many businesses, organizations, and volunteers who contribute each year, including Fair Harbor Marina, the Port of Grapeview, Taylor Shellfish, Mason Transit, the Mason County Sheriff’s
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Office, Central Mason Fire District #3, Kitsap Bank Community Partners Grant Program, Lakeland Village Golf Course, and countless community supporters. To help accommodate visitors, Mason Transit provides free shuttle service between the Grapeview Fire Hall and Fair Harbor Marina from 11 AM to 4 PM.
Whether visitors come for the art, the music, the food, or simply a relaxing day by the water, the Grapeview Water & Art Festival continues to offer a welcoming reminder of what makes summer in Western Washington so special.
Local Writer Releases Memoir-Cookbook Inspired by Shelton Restaurant Journey
Shelton restaurateur Monica “Mo” Carvajal (Beben) has announced the release of Dusting 100 Pigs, a memoir and cookbook inspired by her fifteen years owning Smoking Mo’s restaurant.
The book combines Southern-inspired recipes with deeply personal reflections on entrepreneurship, family life and community. Written following the closure of Smoking Mo’s after a kitchen fire, the book explores the journey of rebuilding life after unexpected change – food, family, burnout, reinvention, and the courage it takes to begin again.
Carvajal-Beben, now co-owner of High Steel Beer Co., says the project became both a creative outlet and a guiding light through one of the most difficult seasons of her life.
Through writing, she found healing, perspective, and an appreciation for the value hidden inside even life’s hardest moments.
Dusting 100 Pigs is now available at High Steel Beer Co. in Shelton as well as the Bookstore Vault at the Fjord Oyster Bank in Hoodsport.
Meet the author at the Fjord on Saturday, May 16, 11-6 for a book signing during the Sawdust, Stumps & Seashells event.
A new chapter for a Shelton café: Onisko reimagines T’S as Tollie’s Café
Eric Onisko recently bought T’S Café, transforming the gathering place into Tollie’s Café — a name inspired by Mary “Tollie” Simpson, co-founder of Simpson Timber.
For Onisko, the move feels less a natural extension of a lifetime spent serving people. Raised in a family-owned appliance store, Onisko learned early that customer service is both an art and a relationship.
After 13 years in hotel front-office and restaurant management, Onisko took over management of a truck stop on Rush Road, eventually earning a promotion to the corporate office where he coordinated fuel facilities and technology systems for more than 50 locations.
Entrepreneurship soon followed. Over the years, Onisko purchased and operated several successful stores throughout the region. But even amid his business ventures, public service remained close to his heart.
For more than eight years, Onisko served on the Shelton City Council, including four years as
mayor, helping guide the city through growth and change while remaining closely connected to the people who call it home. That sense of community is central to his vision for Tollie’s Café.
“I’ve always loved creating and fixing things, especially in environments where I can connect with people,” Onisko says.
“Opening Tollie’s Café is the perfect opportunity to blend my passion for food and community.”
The transition comes with gratitude for Theresa, whose stewardship made T’S Café a local favorite. Onisko is quick to acknowledge the legacy she leaves behind.
“She’s left me some very big shoes to fill,” he says.
For longtime patrons and first-time visitors alike, Tollie’s Café promises to be more than a café — it aims to become a place where stories are shared, neighbors gather, and everyone feels at home.
Weddings, Workshops & Waterfront Views at The Glen Resort in Hoodsport
Tucked between towering evergreens and the calm, glassy waters of Washington’s Hood Canal, The Glen Resort feels less like a traditional event venue and more like the kind of Pacific Northwest retreat people wish they had discovered sooner. Equal parts waterfront hideaway and elevated gathering space, it’s the sort of place where strategy sessions stretch into sunset cocktails, and weddings naturally spill from the deck into starlit conversations around the fire pit.
The resort’s 590-square-foot meeting and event space is intentionally intimate — ideal for leadership retreats, creative workshops, executive planning sessions, or private celebrations. Large windows, forest views, and easy access to the outdoors keep the atmosphere relaxed and inspiring rather than overly corporate. The room can shift easily between boardroom, classroom, or reception-style setups, while the surrounding indoor-outdoor spaces allow events to expand organically onto multiple decks, gathering areas, and waterfront overlooks.
What makes The Glen especially memorable, though, is everything beyond the meeting room itself. Teams can break away for brainstorming walks along forest trails, gather on the over-water dock for coffee and conversation, or recharge in one of several outdoor lounge areas overlooking the fjord-like beauty of Hood Canal.
After hours, the property leans fully into resort mode: private jacuzzis, waterfront soaking, fire pits, BBQ spaces, and quiet corners designed for unwinding after a productive day.
For groups looking to add adventure to the itinerary, the resort can coordinate memorable Pacific Northwest excursions — from kayaking and shellfish farm tours to high-speed gokart racing, skydiving, and beachside activities nearby.
The Glen also shines as a wedding destination. The expansive deck overlooking Hood Canal creates a cinematic backdrop for ceremonies and
receptions, especially at golden hour when the water reflects the changing sky and the surrounding forest glows in evening light.
Whether you’re gathering a leadership team, hosting a creative retreat, or celebrating with family and friends, The Glen Resort delivers something increasingly rare: a setting that feels both polished and deeply connected to nature.
Thicket's Rescue: STORY OF A HOOD CANAL DAHLIA HYBRID
Story & images: Heather Ollenburg
Back in February 2021, The Thicket on Hood Canal twins got inspired to start a homeschool project involving dahlia breeding after reading Dahlia Breeding for the Farmer-Florist and the home Gardener: A Step by Step Guide to Hybridizing New Dahlia Varieties From Seed by Kristine Albrecht.
The 10 year-olds ran outside to find dahlia seed heads that they remembered seeing while building a snowman. The snow had melted back, and sure enough, they found some that had been weathered upon for months and brought them inside. I, mom, had my doubts that any were viable, but did not say a word to discourage.
They got to work picking the heads apart and identifying what the author of the book explained to be good seeds. They had about 40 seeds sprout and grow!
Most were bright yellow misshaped ones that the bees loved. They survived snow and rain, then an unprecedented 120 degree PNW
heatwave in June and lack of sunshine from months of wildfire smoke until the rains returned. One stood out from all as it bloomed one beautiful bloom right before frost, peeking out from the crowded bed.
The next spring, we planted the whole clump because we were all afraid of sending it
to extinction if we split it! It bloomed and bloomed beautifully. We dug it out in the fall and stored it as a clump to bring back out in January to start rooted cuttings. BIG mistake!! The “mother tubers” rotted, and the clump looked lifeless. After what felt like a tense surgery, there were two very ugly partial tubers that we
hoped would at least make it to push out one shoot. One pushed out a shoot, but we were not “out of the woods”—we still needed to root and have it survive. In all, two shoots popped out from one and five shoots from the other before they gave up to rot. From those 7 shoots, we managed to root 7 more from tip cuttings. They grew and formed plump red tubers, and we harvested lots of tubers that made loads more tubers the next year.
Thicket’s Rescue was rescued TWICE. The first time on a hunch that life could be present, and the next time with love in bringing back something we did not want to lose.
In rescuing Rescue, this flower has also rescued us, in a way. The dahlias brought us together during some tough times, and helped us to experience beauty of so much more than just flowers. Sharing in bouquets and seeing the smiles, knowing this happened because two of my curious kids who love nature jumped up and found these seeds and got it all growing makes this mama’s heart happy.
The Thicket twins are in high school now, and they have worked hard for years to help grow the dahlias and keep their seedlings going. Learn more about Hoodsport's Thicket by visiting thicketpnw.com
Alexandra Ehrich
THE CREATIVE HEART OF HOODSTOCK
Story: Kelli Kahout, Hoodstock executive producer
HoodStock: the Hood Canal Music & Arts Festival wouldn’t be the vivid, collectible experience it is today without the quiet force behind its look — artist Alexandra Ehrich. For nine years Alexandra has translated each festival’s spirit into striking posters that become community treasures, posters fans eagerly line up to buy and display. Her work is more than design; it’s a yearly reveal that captures the music, the place, and the people who come together on the Canal.
I first met Alexandra in 2018 when, as executive producer, I pitched the idea for our inaugural festival poster. From that conversation she took my vision and ran farther than I imagined, creating an image that felt true to HoodStock and made our little festival feel official.
Every year since, Alexandra has listened to the festival’s themes and translated them into art that tells a story — bold, thoughtful, and unmistakably hers. Alexandra is a lifelong Mason County resident whose life outside the studio feeds her work. She forages the forests, is a badass angler on the Canal, and moves through the
outdoors with a familiarity that grounds her art in place. That connection to land and community gives her posters an authenticity that resonates here.
THE HARDWARE DISTILLERY CO.®
(continued
Alexandra also serves as the Communications Manager at The Salmon Center, a recipient of HoodStock’s annual giving to help fund environmental education for the youth in Mason County. She has long sought ways to use her experience in the arts to serve the environment; at The Salmon Center she applies those skills to tell the story of the salmon, the Pacific Northwest, sustainable living, and environmental stewardship—bringing complex issues to the community with clarity and heart.
HoodStock’s identity has been shaped in large part by Alexandra Ehrich’s singular talent and quiet dedication.
The community is lucky to have an artist who not only creates beautiful work, but who understands and amplifies the soul of this festival year after year. What better person to be the brand ambassador for such a beloved event?
Learn more about this year's Hoodstock, August 14-15, by visiting hoodstock.org.
MOTOAMERICA
June 26 – 28
Set among the picturesque background of the Northwest, just off Hwy 101 in Shelton, sits Ridge Motorsports Park. Known for its iconic 2.47-mile Road Course, the Ridge is home to over 300 annual events ranging from motorcycle and car races, weddings and holiday parties in their 10,000 sq ft event center, corporate retreats and client engagement events on their 1/5th scale replica go karting track, and so much more.
The nationally televised MotoAmerica Superbikes race is set to return June 26-28 to the Ridge for its sixth consecutive year. With over 10,000 annual race fans attending, this family-friendly weekend will have fans on the edge of their seat watching world class athletes reach speeds near 160mph on a variety of highly advanced motorcycles as they try and conquer the challenging Ridge Road Course.
MotoAmerica Superbikes also features various offtrack activities and fan engagement opportunities. From racer autograph sessions, VIP packages, various vendors across the facility and go kart racing.
While enjoying the races fans can experience get behind the wheel of a
Grand Prix Go Kart and reach speeds near 45mph. The Ridge Grand Prix is an exact 1/5th scale model of its big brother, the Ridge Road Course. With the same challenging turns and thrilling elevation changes, anyone can experience the adrenaline of racing as they battle friends and family to take home the title of champion.
Five classes of road racing will compete, including Quad Lock Superbike, Supersport, Talent Cup, the Mission Super Hooligan National Championship and Royal Enfield Build. Train.Race.
Camping and VIP packages available. The weekend also includes food and surprise entertainment throughout the event. Find out more by visiting the Ridge website.
Royal Tea at the Colonial House, July 12
You’re Invited to a Royal Garden Affair; The Forest Festival Royalty Tea Party, Sunday, July 12 at 11:00 AM at the Colonial House in Shelton. Step into a storybook moment as Queen Francesca and the 2026 Royal Court welcome all young princes and princesses—and their guests—to a tea party in the garden. Hosted on the grounds of Shelton’s Colonial House, this Forest Festival tradition is a magical experience for all generations.
Dress in your royal best (or come as you are!) and enjoy crust-less sandwiches & dainty cake, garden games, Royalty Meet & Greets, and autograph cards, a crown or tiara and other surprises!
This event is the perfect way for children, mothers, grandmothers, and friends to make lasting memories together surrounded by history, elegance, and just the right amount of fairytale sparkle.
Tickets: $40/$25 kids (2–12) Special thanks to Green Diamond and Maple Glen Assisted Living for helping make this charming tradition possible. Secure your spot at masoncountyforestfestival.com
Situated between the Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains in Mason County, is Hood Canal. A place filled with world-class activities, wild-caught fare, lively events, and plenty of places to hide away from it all when you just want the world to yourself.
Hood Canal is Washington’s wild side. And it’s here for you, when you’re ready to discover yours. #WILDSIDEWA
KAYAKING
Whether you seek tide-ripped saltwater passages, Challenging whitewater, or lakes big and small, Hood Canal is a kayaker, canoer, or paddleboarder’s ideal destination.
A rich paddling community supports any adventurer’s vision; rental packages and lesson opportunities for the budding kayaker or paddleboarder are not in short supply.
Get out on the water and enjoy a fresh perspective of the canal with colossal peaks towering overhead.
EXPERIENCE THE WILD SIDE OF WASHINGTON
Like a giant fish hook weaving beneath the Olympics with a web of inlets, Hood Canal is poised to catch your Imagination and reel in memories for years to come. This majestic saltwater fjord hosts unparalleled shellfish, shrimp, crab, and salmon and is renown as a diving mecca with its glacial formation causing underwater biomes that appear nowhere else. Venture away from the canal to Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest for hiking and Thrilling vistas. Choose from hundreds of easy access freshwater lakes or revel in waterfall views including the Iconic High Steel Bridge. Ablaze with wildflowers in the spring, hidden swimming holes in the summer, a chance To see spawning salmon in the fall, and snow-capped peaks in the winter, there is never an inopportune Time to visit Hood Canal.
CLEAR YOUR MIND AND CHASE WATERFALLS
Hamma Hamma & Rocky Brook are just two of the many falls on Hood Canal waiting to be explored. Want to plan a waterfall getaway? Visit waterfalltrail.org for 25 unique and special places to visit.
HIGH STEEL BRIDGE
Soaring 420' above the Skokomish River, the High Steel Bridge (1929), is the highest steel truss arch bridge in Washington. You won’t even need to leave the car for this breathtaking view. Follow Skokomish Valley Rd 11 miles from Hwy 101 to reach the bridge.
MOTORSPORTS
The Ridge Motorsports Park racing course near Shelton includes a fantastic road course that's geared towards club racers and competitors. Head to the DNR forests for some unmatched off-road trail rides.
TRAILS & WALKS
World-class hiking trails lace the Olympic Mountain wilderness, leading from mountain stream beds through old growth forest to high-altitude ridge lines with breathtaking views of Hood Canal and beyond.
TASTE YOUR WAY AROUND THE CANAL AND SOUND
Do a farm-to-table dining loop experiencing some Northwest flavors – including Hama Hama, Chelsea, Taylor, Fjor Oyster Bank, Hardware Distillery, Stottle Winery, Hood Canal Winery, and, don't miss Olympic Mountain Ice Cream.
TAKE A LEAP
We love the folks at SKYDIVE KAPOWSIN! Feel the adrenaline pumping rush of free-fall and experience the freedom of the air with highly trained professional instructors. Views of the fjord and the Olympics and a seven minute free fall adrenaline rush from 13,000 feet will definitely change your outlook.
PICK A PEAK
From easy day hikes with the family to overnights or “experience needed” excursions – you don’t
Have to go far for spectacular memories!
RIDE THE RAILS
Experience nature and history pedaling the rails on a quadricycle excursion. vancecreekrailriders.com
FISHING
From open water trolling on the sound to throwing dry flies on small lowland lakes, there are plenty of fishing opportunities in the area.
Seek colossal coho in the fall and hungry trout in the spring to see why every season is fishing season in Hood Canal.
BIKING
Don the helmet and clip into your pedals, for there is no shortage of road or trail from which to experience the beauty and thrill of this landscape
PHOTO: TOBY TAHJA-SYRETT
Dive-in Hood Canal lodging, sales, air, training, rentals, and charters available near renowned destinations like SUND ROCK PRESERVE and OCTOPUS HOLE. yssdive.com
SHELTON CELEBRATING A RICH TIMBER HISTORY
SHELTON is the westernmost city on Puget Sound. Featuring a bustling heritage core, its landscape is marked by colossal forests which led to a title of “Christmas Tree Capital of the World.”
Dubbed CHRISTMASTOWN, USA, since 1962, Shelton successfully won the Guinness World Record for Most Lit Christmas Trees in 2019.
SHELTON AREA LODGING
82ND FOREST FESTIVAL
MAY 28 – MAY 31
This event has celebrated the rich timber history in Mason County since 1945 with a parade, carnival, logging
Learn more by visiting explorehoodcanal.com/events.
LakeCushman
POTLATCH STATE PARK
Longest stretch of PUBLIC BEACH in Mason County with shellfish, kayaking, and Hood Canal water access.
DISCOVER PASS REQUIRED
HUNTER FARMS
Farm Market, seasonal events; Visitor Center
SHELTON VISITOR CENTER
TO GO: Red Caboose on Railroad Avenue Information, handouts, and maps
ISABELLA LAKE TRAILS
EASY 2.5 mile loop, rolling meadows
TO GO: Hwy 101 exit at SR#3 to Golden Pheasant Rd, right on Delight Park Rd. DISCOVER PASS
TAYLOR SHELLFISH STORE
Fresh seafood, tours available; open to public. Hwy 101 to Taylor Towne Exit.
SQUAXIN ISLAND TRIBE MUSEUM
Stories, photos, art, artifacts dating back over 500 years. TO GO: Hwy 101 to Kamilche exit , follow signs. ADMISSION CHARGE
SCHAFER STATE PARK TRAIL
Trails, interpretive center, swimming, fishing. TO GO: 12 miles north of Elma on the East Fork of the Satsop River. The park is also accessible via the Brady exit from Hwy 12.
DISCOVER PASS REQUIRED
ALLYN
Waterfront park features gazebo and lawns, play area, and beach access. NO FEE/PASS
HARSTINE ISLAND TRAIL
300 acres to explore EASY 1.5 mile, beach DISCOVER PASS
WALKER PARK Beach access, playground, restrooms, picnic shelter, kayak access. NO FEE/PASS
HOPE ISLAND STATE PARK
OYSTER BAY Beach,marshy estuary, for birding, salmon observing or fishing. TO GO: Parking pullout on Hwy 101, marker 356 /Old Olympic Hwy. NO FEE/PASS
THE KENNEDY CREEK SALMON TRAIL
Chum salmon are on view as they make their way up river
TOPOGRAPHY: flat, viewing platforms, interpretive signs TO GO: Hwy 101, Old Olympic Hwy; weekends, seasonally. NO FEE/ PASS
106 acre park reachable only by water. Old-growth forests, saltwater marshes, fruit trees, beaches, historical buildings, friendly deer. Destination for kayakers and boaters!
TO GO: access by boat, mooring available, beach landing, boats and kayaks can launch at Arcadia Point (0.5 miles). CAMPING FEES
STAIRCASE | OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK
Currently closed for fire damage. Call (360) 565-3131 NATIONAL PARK PASS TO GO: HWY 101 to SR#119, follow FS#24 to Staircase Entrance.
RAPIDS LOOP: EASY family friendly 2 mile trail through old growth forest to a bridge over the North Fork Skokomish River; only 200-foot elevation gain. BIG CEDAR, a 0.6 mile spur trail, leads to a fallen cedar while a 0.5 mile section leads to a river viewpoint.
FOUR STREAM: EASY 1.2 mile to Beaver Flat, swampy section of alder/cedar forest. Elevation loss 100 ft.
WAGONWHEEL LAKE: MODERATE TO DIFFICULT climbing 2.9 miles (elevation gain of 3,365 ft).
Well maintained popular trail leads to a small lake
MODERATE TO DIFFICULT 3 mile climb,switchbacks TO GO: Hwy 101 at Hamma Hamma Recreation Area
UPPER LENA LAKE TRAIL
Steep with unstable bed; camping.
MODERATE TO DIFFICULT 4.3 mile climb
TOPOGRAPHY: 3,800 foot gain to sub-alpine lake
TO GO: Same as Lower Lena Lake Trail above.
WILDERNESS PERMIT FOR CAMPING
NW FOREST PASS FOR PARKING
BIG CREEK
Great pack-in picnic destination with pools and footbridges. MODERATE 4 miles
TO GO: Trailhead at FS#24 and SR#119 junction. NW FOREST PASS
HAMA HAMA STORE
Oyster Saloon, store and fresh seafood market. hamahama.com
EAGLE CREEK
Beach access & parking across from Eagle Creek Saloon. NO FEE/PASS
HAMMA HAMMA
LIVING LEGACY TRAIL
Spectacular views of the Mt. Skokomish and the Brothers ranges; interpretive signage. Trail passes Hamma Hamma Cabin built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (1930s). EASY TO MODERATE 1.5 mile loop.
TOPOGRAPHY: First 0.25 mile is barrier free along the river; ascends bluff to creek. TO GO: Hwy 101 to FS#25, 5.5 miles.
WILDERNESS PERMIT REQUIRED FOR CAMPING
DEWATTO BAY Beach with dramatic view of the Olympics; excellent photography destination. Lots of ripe berries in late summer.
TO GO: Belfair-Tahuya Rd to Dewatto Rd, 4 miles.
SERVICES AT PORT OF DEWATTO CAMPGROUND
TAHUYA STATE FOREST
23,100 acre forest provides open spaces for sightseeing, camping, nature study, fishing, hiking,horse, ATV, ORV, and biking. A “working forest” trail may be closed due to forest management activities.
TOPOGRAPHY deep woods
TO GO: Hwy 300/Belfair
Tahuya Rd, 1.1 mile DISCOVER PASS
HOODSPORT VISITOR CENTER
TO GO: Located just off Hwy 101 in Hoodsport – information, handouts, maps PASSES FOR PURCHASE
MENARD’S LANDING
Expansive beach with panoramic views of Olympics. Picnic tables. NO FEE/PASS
DALBY WATERWHEEL TO GO: SR#106
VISITOR CENTER/ BELFAIR LICENSING
TO GO: On Hwy 3 in Belfair PASSES FOR PURCHASE Park/ vehicle/vessel/fishing/hunting northmasonchamber.com
HIKING & BACKCOUNTRY CAMPING
Clamber up the rugged trails, tiptoe through the quiet old growth forest, or careen through the pristine meadows of Olympic National Forest & National Park. Shoulder your pack and experience the sights and sounds of the vast wilderness home to some of the most beautiful flora & fauna in the world. Ablaze with wildflowers in the spring, cool hidden swimming holes in the summer, a chance to see spawning salmon in the fall, and snow capped peaks in the winter, there is never an inopportune time to hike Hood Canal.
ITINERARY 3: HOODSPORT & NORTH HOOD CANAL
HUG THE CURVES
As Hwy 101 navigates the bays of HOOD CANAL, imagine relaxing dockside of a beachside cabin, watching the seals roll off the rocks
CANAL SPIRIT
HOODSPORT WINERY, STOTTLE WINERY, and HARDWARE DISTILLERY offer tastings amongst shopping, dining and the famous Olympic Mountain Ice Cream.
FORAGE DINNER
Come prepared with buckets and boots. Check regs at wdfw.wa.gov before digging – or stop by HAMA HAMA STORE & OYSTER SALOON for freshly prepared seafood.
DIVE DEEPER
Giant octopus, wolf eels and swarms of ancient rock cod add to the wonder of this special place. AIR, GEAR & SCUBA LESSONS, RENTALS & CHARTERS available.
WEST HOOD CANAL LODGING
Alice’s Little Beach House | 112 N Allie Ahl Ln, Lilliwaup | (360) 877-9226 | aliceslittlebeachhouse.com
The Glen Motel (Glen Ayr) | 25381 N Hwy 101, Hoodsport | (360) 877-9522 | glenayr.com
Alderbrook Resort & Spa | 10 E Alderbrook Drive, Union | (360) 898-2200 | alderbrookresort.com
Blue Heron Resort Condos | 6520 E SR106, Union | (360) 614-3191 | attheblue.com
Cottages at Hood Canalé | 6871 E SR 106, Union | (360) 710-7452| booking.hoodcanale.com
Hood Canal Events Accommodations | curated short term rentals | hoodcanalevents.com
Hood Canal Resort Properties | 8761 E SR 106, Union | (360) 842-9779 | hoodcanalresort.com
Robin Hood Village Resort | 6780 E State Route 106, Union | 898-2163 | robinhoodvillageresort.com
The largest chainsaw carving outlet, BEAR IN A is a great place to explore this unique art. They also teach chainsaw carving.
GRAPE VIEWS
Waterfront Grapeview is the location of first winery and vineyards of the Pacific Northwest.
BEACH WALK
The area features quaint shops, a variety of restaurants, and beach parks.
There are plenty of great public beaches to explore and launch points for your kayaks.
ALLYN & GRAPEVIEW enjoy gorgeous views of the protected harbor waters of Case Inlet. The area features quaint shops, waterfront lodging, restaurants, and beach parks.
Annually, the Grapeview area hosts the Water and Art Festival, a day-long event featuring entertainment and juried artists.
ITINERARY 5: BELFAIR AREA
TAKE A WALK ON BOARDWALK
Hood Canal’s wild 139 acre THELER WETLANDS hosts two miles of trails. 1,700+ feet of floating boardwalk, native plants, and interpretive kiosks to experience wetland wildlife. olympicbirdtrail.org
SALMON STRONG
THE SALMON CENTER provides education and recreation through a series of collaborative activities at their certified organic farm. They also host seasonal events. pnwsalmoncenter.org
VISITOR INFORMATION & RESOURCES
HOODSPORT VISITOR CENTER
150 N Lake Cushman Rd, Hoodsport, WA (360) 877-2021 | (800) 576-2021
BELFAIR VISITOR CENTER
30 NE Romance Hill Rd, Belfair, WA (360) 275-4267 | northmasonchamber.com
UNION VISITOR INFORMATION
Located at Hunter Farms, E 1921 SR 106, Union, WA
SHELTON CHAMBER
VISITOR CENTER
215 W. Railroad Ave, Shelton, WA | (360) 426-2021
Open 8 AM - 5 PM | Monday through Friday
MASON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM
427 W. Railroad Ave, Shelton, WA
11 AM - 4 PM | Tuesday through Saturday
TAKE TO THE TRAILS
23,100 acre TAHUYA STATE FOREST for camping, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, ATV, ORV, and mountain biking. dnr.wa.gov
From ferries in Seattle to trailheads in Hood Canal, Mason Transit offers free rides – masontransit.org
OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK nps.gov
Wild Coastal Cuisine from the Edge of the Pacific Northwest
ARTIST FEATURE: Daniel Ferreira, Cooking Around the Sound
Cooking Around the Sound is a visceral celebration of the Pacific Northwest, bringing elevated, regionally-inspired cuisine to the rugged fringes of the Washington coast. Led by creator/chef Daniel, each dish is a tribute to the landscape, crafted on driftwood-strewn beaches and islands accessible only by kayak. From the mist-covered shores of the Hood Canal to the hidden inlets of the Puget Sound, the channel highlights the raw connection between the elements and the plate, featuring local treasures like Dungeness crab, Pacific oysters, and Beecher’s Handmade Cheese.
The experience is defined by a high energy, fast-paced aesthetic that trades dialogue for the rhythmic, mechanical sounds of the craft—the heavy clink of a skillet, the hiss of a searing pan, and the steady pull of the tide. Every shoot captures the grit of the Pacific Northwest, showcasing technical skill and the authentic beauty of preparing meals in the wild.
With the channel’s iconic mascots, Captain Pepper and Old Salty, standing watch over every meal, Cooking Around the Sound offers a gritty, authentic, and visually stunning look at the spirit of Pacific Northwest coastal cooking. Follow the journey on Instagram and TikTok @cookingaroundthesound
Smoked Wild Sockeye Salmon Dip
This recipe brings the bold, smoky flavors of the Pacific Northwest directly to your bowl. Perfectly balanced with a hint of citrus and the bite of fresh herbs, it’s a rugged yet refined dip designed to be prepared—and enjoyed—wherever your kayak takes you.
• 1 package (4oz) Smoked Wild Sockeye Salmon
• 1 block (8oz) Tillamook Cream Cheese
• 1/2 cup Tillamook Cultured Sour Cream
• 1/4 Red Onion, finely diced
• 2 tbsp Capers, drained
• 1 tbsp Fresh Dill, chopped
• 1 tbsp Fresh Chives, finely minced
• 1/2 Lemon, freshly squeezed
• To taste: Black Pepper (from Captain Pepper)
• For serving: Saltine or buttery crackers
Build the Base: In a mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese and sour cream. Fold them together until smooth and velvety. Prepare the Salmon: Gently break the smoked sockeye salmon into bite-sized flakes and add them to the base. The Aromatics: Add the finely diced red onion, capers, fresh dill, and minced chives. These provide the color and sharp, herbal brightness that cut through the richness of the salmon. Season & Brighten: Squeeze in the fresh lemon juice and add a generous crack of black pepper. The Fold: Gently fold all ingredients together until well-incorporated, ensuring the salmon stays in distinct, flavorful pieces. Serve: Transfer the dip to a bowl, garnish with extra chives and dill, and serve with plenty of crisp crackers.
Chef’s Note: This dip is best enjoyed on a driftwood strewn beach with the sound of the tide in the background.
Follow the journey: Instagram & TikTok @cookingaroundthesound. To see a video of this recipe cooked on a kayak while floating down The Hood Canal scan this QR code.
Looking for the perfect gift for a loved one?
Mason County Sportsman’s Association's classes in their indoor range in Shelton are a great way to learn a new skill and increase firearm safety.
Did you know our local KMAS signal reaches as far as Tacoma, Aberdeen, Bremerton, and Centralia? As the “Voice of Mason County,” KMAS also reaches your friends & neighbors from Allyn, Olympia, and Shelton to Belfair & Hoodsport.
Radio is available 24/7 and is accessible to everyone.
Bluegrass from the Forest celebrates 21 years!
Bluegrass From the Forest returns for its 21st year this summer, bringing another long weekend of high-lonesome harmonies, campground picking circles, late-night jams, and community celebration to Shelton’s South Mason Youth Soccer Park. What began as a grassroots gathering has become one of the Pacific Northwest’s most beloved bluegrass traditions — equal parts music festival, family reunion, and all-night jam session beneath the fir trees.
Powered entirely by volunteers, the festival raises funds for the philanthropic efforts of Kristmas Town Kiwanis while drawing musicians and fans from across the country to the Hood Canal region. Alongside nationally touring acts, the festival continues its tradition of spotlighting Northwest talent, hands-on workshops, youth programs, open mics, and impromptu collaborations that often become the heart of the weekend.
The 2026 lineup promises a rich mix of tradition and forward-thinking string music. Florida-based Remedy Tree brings an Americana sound rooted in bluegrass, indie folk, and Appalachian old-time traditions. Founded by husband-and-wife duo Gabriel and Abigail Acevedo, the band has evolved into one of the more distinctive young voices in modern bluegrass. Gabriel’s Puerto Rican heritage and rural Florida upbringing lend the music an out-
South Mason Soccer Park
Shelton WA | All ages
July 10-12
Early Bird pricing for weekend, one day and afternoon tickets are available through 6/20, visit Bluegrassfromtheforest.com.
sider’s perspective, while Abigail’s roots in folk and old-time circles anchor the band in tradition. Together with Isaac Taylor and Nathan Beaumont, Remedy Tree delivers emotionally rich songwriting, driving instrumentation, and a fresh vision for where bluegrass can go next.
From North Carolina, Unspoken Tradition channels the spirit of Appalachian storytelling through hard-driving newgrass energy and deeply felt harmonies. Their sound balances nostalgia and momentum, blending reverence for traditional roots music with a contemporary edge that has made them a standout on the national bluegrass scene.
Above: Unspoken Tradition Left: Remedy Tree
Representing the South Puget Sound and Hood Canal region, Union City Council Band draws from old-time mountain music, blues, jazz, gospel, and folk traditions to create a lively, high-energy bluegrass experience. Featuring Guy Demartino, Greg Linder, Donald Strand, Martin Strand, and Gwendolyn Taylor, the quintet combines virtuosic instrumentation with rich vocal harmonies and a deep appre ciation for traditional forms.
Seattle-based Hemlock Revival arrives as one of the Pacific Northwest’s most exciting emerging bluegrass acts. Formed through late-night jam sessions among friends, the six-piece group blends progressive influences from bands like Mighty Poplar and East Nash Grass with the timeless drive of classic bluegrass pioneers. Their dynam ic performances and mountain-high harmonies have already earned attention at venues across the region, including Wintergrass showcases.
Outdoor Summer MUSIC FESTIVAL
Welcoming:
Like strong traditional bluegrass with an edge to it? Then you'll like Runaway Train Bluegrass! This band is known for tight harmonies and clean pickin'.
A Pacific Northwest mainstay, they are the host band for Bluegrass from the Forest festival and they also play an important role in helping to get the festival going every year.
The Host Band for the Saturday Night Country Dance, The Bar-K Buckaroos play traditional western swing dance music in the style of Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys.
Hemlock Revival
They bring their love of Bluegrass, Country and Swing, Jazz, Blues and Raggae' to form a great evening of western swing and 20-40's era swing music.
Beyond the performances, Bluegrass
From the Forest remains deeply rooted in participation and community. The Chick Rose School of Bluegrass returns Saturday morning with an intensive youth workshop led by Stacey Harnew, Jered Wildman, and crew. Designed for kids eager to learn bluegrass music in a supportive setting, the program has become one of the festival’s most cherished traditions.
The popular Band Scramble returns Saturday afternoon, giving attendees the chance to sign up, form impromptu bands, and perform together after just 30 minutes of rehearsal time — often resulting in some of the festival’s most memorable moments. And for those inspired by the campground jams and collaborative spirit of the weekend, the Open Mic offers a welcoming stage for original songs, spontaneous arrangements, and shared musical discoveries.
More than two decades in, Bluegrass From the Forest continues to embody what makes roots music festivals special: world-class musicianship paired with generosity, spontaneity, and a deep sense of belonging. Whether you come for the headline acts, the late-night picking circles, the kids’ programs, or simply the feeling of hearing banjos echo through the trees, the festival remains one of the Pacific Northwest’s most heartfelt summer traditions.
For additional details on band bios, ticket and camping reservations, visit bluegrassfromtheforest.com.
Early Bird ticket pricing is available until June 20.
MoonFest Brings Classic Rock Concert celebrates 50 years
in Quilcene | July 31-August 1
Classic Rock fans around the Fjord are making camping reservations for another exciting weekend of live entertainment as MoonFest returns this summer for the 50th year! Held at a scenic venue overlooking Lake Leland near the town of Quilcene, this festival has become a popular destination for classic rock lovers, campers, and outdoor music enthusiasts from across the Northwest.
MoonFest is a celebration of music and community and features fantastic live performances as well as arts, food and other vendors with onsite camping, lakeside views all in a beautiful natural amphitheater setting. With space for 1300 guests and parking for 300 vehicles, the event is best experienced with an immersive weekend reservation.
The 2026 event will feature performances from regional and nationally recognized classic rock musicians, including founding HEART guitarist Roger Fisher, Led Zepplin tribute, No Quarter, Santana tribute, Amigos, Geoffrey Castle and so many more!
For more details and to book your tickets and campsite visit moon-fest.com.
From Crème Brûlée to Fresh-Baked Bread: Food & Friends at Fjord Oyster Bank
Story:
Zach Hansen
There is something deeply satisfying about watching a place slowly evolve through food, ideas, and the people who gather around them. At the Fjord Oyster Bank, the kitchen has become a workshop of experimentation lately—new recipes, new techniques, and a growing appreciation for the small details that transform simple ingredients into memorable meals. Beyond the stove and oven, the restaurant and bookshop continue to expand in ways that feel rooted to Hood Canal itself: thoughtful, a little eccentric, and shaped by the landscape surrounding us.
First you crack two dozen eggs into a bowl—try to be gentle on the yokes, you don’t want them breaking apart. Palm them from your left to your right hand. Don’t overwork the egg with your fingers, the white will just fall away and its a fast way to work. Measure out vanilla, salt, sugar and warm cream—whisk into the yolks you’ve separated until the ingredients are smooth and the sugar is dissolved. Put the mixture in a thick walled saucepan on low heat over the stove and stir constantly, this part is pretty dull but it is important to prevent the base from setting up unevenly. Mix until the pot simmers and then pull from the heat. Distribute the custard into shallow
ramekins and place them in a pan with water (a water bath for even cooking); throw the tray into the oven. Well, in a more gentle manner than that. When the center of the custard jiggles when shaken, you know it is good to pull and chill in the fridge. Simple, only a few ingredients, and incredibly decadent. That’s how you make Crème brûlée, one of the newest deserts at the Fjord Oyster Bank. You just have to choose between a thick burnt sugar crust or a thin one! Learning to make Crème brûlée was not on my 2026 to do list, thanks Tom!
More recipes and techniques are evolving in the kitchen at the Bank. We
changed the pasta recipe and now incorporate more egg into the flour mix. House-made pasta is is very delicate and can be easy to overcook—the extra egg seems to add elasticity. Besides, who doesn’t like eggs? Last week ten wasabi plants arrived and were planted in the damp, cool shade along Finch Creek just beyond the patio. I want to serve the geoduck sashimi with real wasabi but it is difficult to source and very expensive. Nearly all ‘wasabi’ served with sushi and sashimi is just horseradish with green food dye. Wasabia japonica or Japanese horseradish has a more complex heat and is grated at order to present unique flavors that oxidize and dissipate in minutes.
This sounds more fitting to the prized geoduck than a powered mix you add water to. It will take a few years for the plants to mature for a harvest, so we will have to find a source in the meantime.
Oh, and there is a new routine at the restaurant every morning! We mix a cup of warm water, sugar, and active yeast and set is over the oven for warmth. Again, so simple, so delicious. We now bake our own bread daily and I am pretty sure it is overtaking the demand for rice. I don’t blame anyone, fresh warm bread does a pretty good job at soaking up the hoisin and wine sauce from the sautéed clams.
Outside the kitchen, the bookshop has expanded and locally milled cedar shelving has grown out of the vault along the wall. A well curated selection of gifts graduates from ocean life to the seashore to the land and rivers and up to the mountains. Many books are local for the area; some teach about edible mushrooms, some about the Latin names of the marine life in Hod Canal. And don’t worry, if your looking for something more adventurous we have Asterix and The Adventures of Tintin.
The creation and refinement of food has been exciting, but it is only possible because of the amazing team that carries the restaurant. Everyone of them takes the pride in their work, and very often I hear stories shared by our guests and staff of Xinh and the fond
memories of her that we hold onto.
Thank you to the team for being here, thank you to those that dine at the Bank for enjoying the food and company. Open Thursday through Saturday from 10 to 8 PM. Sunday until 6 PM.
Spirit of 76
JULY 22, 6 PM | UNION Story by Rob Hill
Whether you are living it up at the Hotel California, wasted away again in Margaritaville, or you just want to Go Your Own Way, one thing is for sure. You are probably living in a song that charted or was written or recorded in the year 1976. And while an entire nation will be celebrating the Spirit of 1776 leading up to the marking of America’s 250th birthday, the town of Union, a few weeks later, will be looking back just half a century to remember the music of 1976 - some of the best and a little bit of the worst music ever made.
It’s the “Spirit of 76,” an event that helps to kick off Peace Love & Union week this summer as part of the Peace Love & Union Saltwater Songwriters Festival. It’s hosted by the Alderbrook Golf Club at their outdoor vista The Pointe, overlooking the fjord and the Olympics. And while the set list will make especially the younger Baby Boomers and older Gen Xers smile, it is Union singer-guitarist Chris Eakes, who wasn’t yet born, who’s been tagged as the grand master of the 1976 Hit Parade.
Leading the More Perfect Union Band, Eakes is busy curating the list of songs that will be performed by local talent as well as visiting artists from around the country in town for the songwriters festival. “There’s a lot to choose from,” Eakes observes. “It was a remarkable year for music that produced some classic music of differ-
ent genres. We could go on for days without playing a song you don’t know.”
Eakes worked mainly from Billboard charts from 1976 and 1977 to compile a list of songs that were candidates to be among the 25 or so that will be featured at the event.
And he’s assembled a band prepared to play (and maybe dress) the part. The core of the band will be locals Peter Carpentier, dummer Samuel Gibbon, keyboardist Brent Pendleton and son Michael Eakes on synths and horns, and they’ll be joined by percussionist Melanie Howe and pedal steel player “Aloha” Steve Molnar, visiting from Tennessee and Florida, respectively, for the festival.
There was so much happening musically in that iconic year you could be excused for being Blinded by the Light, or for looking forward to wearing your goofy bell
bottom pants on \S-A-T-UR-D-A-Y night, or maybe just wanting to Rock and Roll All Night. It would prove to be a huge year for the Eagles, who released the Hotel California album in the last days of 1976, for Fleetwood Mac, whose Rumors album was recorded that year, and for Northwest artist Steve Miller, whose Fly Like an Eagle album lived on the charts after its release in May of that year.
“The variety of music that was coming and going that year is unbelievable,” Eakes says. “You had disco starting to take hold at the same time as the music we now know as classic rock was peaking, and Kenny Rogers was starting a wave of crossover country hits.
This was the year before Saturday Night Fever took over the pop charts, but the Bee Gees were already introducing music that would be in
the movie, and yet the age of the singer-songwriter was still going strong with songs like Bob Seger’s “Night Moves” and Gordon Lightfoot’s “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” and Paul Simon’s “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” all among the defining tracks of the year.
It was also the year that Stevie Wonder created Songs in the Key of Life, recognized not only as his personal opus but as one of the greatest accomplishments in music history, featuring the signature song “Sir Duke.” The year also generated some hit songs that some would be happy to forget. The spoofy songs “Convoy,” capitalizing on the CB radio fad sweeping the nation, and Rick Dees’s “Disco Duck” both topped the charts that year. So did the Grammy-winning song you love to hate “Afternoon Delight,” by the Starland Vocal Band, widely regarded as a one hit wonder,
Union singer-guitarist Chris Eakes
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but whose members Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert also authored a moderately successful ditty called “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”
According to Eakes, there might be some nods to the worst songs of 1976, but the More Perfect Union Band will be focusing mostly on the best.
Admission to the Spirit of 76 is included in the Peace Love & Union Saltwater Songwriters Festival, available at www.peaceloveunion.net and can be purchased separately at EventBrite.com as of June 1, or for Alderbrook residents at the AGYC Clubhouse.
In 1976, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band released Dirt, Silver & Gold, which featured songs including "Mother Earth" and "Falling Down Slow." Jeff Hanna, founding member, lead vocalist, and guitarist for the Band, presents at the 2026 Saltwater Songwriters Festival in Union. Tickets required.
Thank you!
OysterFest: community support equal community support
Shelton Skookum Rotary uses funds from OysterFest to support a variety of programs in Mason County including scholarships, grants to local organizations, and a Science Fair. What makes OysterFest even more special is that food vendors at OysterFest are local, non-profit organizations. It is estimated that OysterFest generates over $200,000 each year supporting the Mason County community.
Grab a Stick – it's time to play Outdoors
What's your favorite adventure outdoors? Whatever your answer, take your best fur-friend along. Hiking, swimming, boating and camping are great ways to bond with your dog, while you enjoy the fresh air and exercise. A little pre-planning makes your trip easy, safe and fun. Once you've got a successful outdoor excursion under your belt – and her collar – you'll be ready for many more!
Meet Luna. Luna is a six year old golden that lives with her family and best friend, Bear (a twelve(!) year old Landseer Newfoundland) in Shelton. Bear and Luna love being on the water. In fact, given the chance, they'd stay on the beach all day chasing sticks, and hunting crabs and flounders.
Luna also loves going for hikes with her humans but every once in a while they need to be reminded what to do when she's taking them out in the wilderness.
1. Stick to Pup-friendly trails
Trails located in the Olympic National Forest, DNR Land, County or State Parks are mostly dog-friendly. While you're welcome in Olympic National Park campgrounds, picnic areas and paved or dirt roads; most trails within the Olympic National Park prohibit you from walking them!
2. Care for Tender Paws
Make sure your people have proper hiking shoes and that your pads are toughened or purchase booties and get used to them before heading out.
3. Take it Easy
Luna suggests starting with an easy trail and slowly building up stamina.
4. Yield to oncoming traffic
Step off the trail when hikers pass and let other dogs know how friendly your humans are.
5. Leash Control
If the trail requires leashes, keep a short leash (6') on your human. Long leashes may get tangled in the bushes.
6. Leave no trace
Remind your humans to take out the trash and pack waste bags. If you are backpacking overnight, show them how to bury it at least 6" deep and away from camps and water sources.
Pick up a copy of the new Wild Side Adventure Guide for a list of trails around South Puget Sound and Hood Canal that welcome four-footed friends –check out the hikes with the icon
April showers bring May murals
Springtime is blossoming in Belfair with two new murals sponsored by the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group. The first is in the newly renovated Theler Wetlands Nature Center and commemorates the original “Nature’s Gate” entrance created by John Olsen. The second is a “Secret Wetlands Garden” mural that will be painted in May at Hood Canal Arts and Gifts in collaboration with NM school district art students.
This store features handcrafted items and original work from over 35 local artists and the mural will feature hidden frogs which are biological indicators of environmental health.
“Nature has so many surprises for us if we take time to look. Our hope is that people who visit will discover many delightful little details that are
hidden in these murals and become motivated to learn more and protect our natural environment.” said HCSEG Staff member Joanne Tejeda.
For more information on the opening of the Theler Wetlands Nature Center, unveiling of the murals or HCSEG‘s work visit: pnwsalmoncenter.org.
The Shelton Farmers Market is back with new ideas
By Jeff Slakey
The Shelton Farmers Market is back for another season. Saturdays, 10 to 3, through October, in the Civic Center parking lot at 425 West Cota Street. I caught up with Tammy Ramsey by phone to talk about what’s new and what’s back. Tammy and her husband first came to the market last year as vendors. Once they started spending Saturdays down at a booth, Tammy got hooked on the community side of it. Now she’s helping run the show.
The Cota Street location is in its second season, and it has changed the feel of the market. There’s room for music. There’s room for food trucks. There’s room for people to actually linger. Anyone who remembers the market bouncing around between 3rd Street in Shelton, and then Evergreen Square will recognize the difference. The new spot is walkable, has parking, and sits in a part of downtown Shelton that’s finding new life as the arts district.
Tammy is especially focused on the smaller end of the spectrum this year. There are real barriers to getting a backyard farm or a small operation into a market. Staffing a booth on a Saturday is one of them. The market is working on solutions that would let smaller farmers, and even some larger ones who can’t spare the labor, still get their produce in front of shoppers. If that comes together, Mason County wins. More local food in more pantries.
Beyond the regular Saturday rhythm, the market is planning monthly capstone events through the summer. There are calls out for musicians and artists who want to play, and for community members who want to volunteer or become a friend of the market.
