By Scott D. Johnston
For Grays Harbor News Group
The Renewed Antique Show is going on this weekend at the Ocean Shores Convention Center. The emphasis is on antique “blending” — a mix of recycling, upcycling and repurposing.
The hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. A vintage fashion show will be staged today at 2 p.m. In honor of the Ocean Shores 50th Anniversary Celebration, it has been dubbed the “History of Ocean Shores Style Show.”
Admission to the antique show is $3, or $2 with a non-perishable food or cash donation to the Ocean Shores Food Bank.
A variety of other events are coming in the weeks ahead to Ocean Shores and the North Beach:
Quartet Champions Concert
Saturday, Feb. 22
Ocean Shores Convention Center
The annual concert featuring regional Barbershop Harmony Society champions will begin at 7 p.m.
Quartet Champions of Evergreen District (QCED) are returning to Ocean Shores for their second year. The show will consist of winning quartets from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, British Columbia and Alberta, as well as the QCED chorus of 50-plus voices. Every group in the show is either an Evergreen District Barbershop Quartet Champion or an International Seniors Quartet Champion.
The QCED winter show was staged in Seaside, Oregon, from 1985 until 2018. QCED president Charlie Boon said the group moved the concert to Ocean Shores last year because of the beach and the venue.
“We need a destination that will draw a good number of performers for a fun weekend,” he said. While they were “cautiously optimistic” about ticket sales for the 2019 concert at Ocean Shores, they ended up adding seats to accommodate the crowd of well over 300.
“It was fantastic,” Boon beamed, noting the extremely enthusiastic audience response. He said QCED was so thrilled that the group has already booked the same date for next year.
“It’s been an absolute joy working with the Convention Center staff,” added his daughter, Laurie Boon Fowlkes.
Tickets are available online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4392238 and locally at Beach Tyme Quilts, the Dusty Trunk and the Convention Center.
Beachcombing ID from A to Z
Sunday, March 1
Museum of the North Beach
This will be the museum’s third annual Beachcombing ID from A to Z event. They urge people to “bring in your unique, mysterious or everyday beachcombed objects,” and local expert Alan Rammer will be on hand from 2 to 4 p.m. to identify and educate.
“Fun is a key element in the program,” which was developed by Rammer, said museum curator Kelly Calhoun. He said Rammer “tries to help participants figure out what the items are, where they originated and what the findings could mean.”
Rammer is an author and award-winning science educator. A prize will be awarded for what he considers the most unique beach find of the afternoon.
The museum is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends during the winter months and is located at 4658 State Route 109 in Moclips. Information is available by calling 360-276-4441 or by emailing kelly@moclips.org.
Beachcombers Fun Fair
Saturday-Sunday, March 7-8
Ocean Shores Convention Center
This 33rd annual festival is designed to help visitors and locals appreciate and preserve the quality of life in the unique settings of Ocean Shores and the North Beach.
The event includes exhibits of beachcombed items, seminars, information booths and craft vendors. It also features beach walks and children’s activities.
One ever-popular element of this show is numerous displays of a huge variety of things found on our local beaches by the general public. There are always several hundred entries in dozens of categories, including single objects, collections and photography. There are also various creative and artistic efforts, such as collages, carvings, mobiles, mosaics, flower arrangements, home décor and furnishings.
Entries should be brought to the venue on Friday, March 6, between 2 and 7 p.m. There is no charge to enter. Forms can be completed on-site or downloaded in advance from www.oseventplanner.com. Judging will take place that night, and ribbons will be attached to winners’ entries before the doors open to the public on Saturday.
Guest speakers will weigh in on a variety of topics between 11 a.m. and closing both days.
Two of the most popular events take place Sunday morning. Alan Rammer, retired WDFW shellfish biologist, author and educator, is one of this event’s founders. At 9 a.m., he will lead his annual beach walk and share bits of his encyclopedic knowledge of the beach environment.
Also, anyone can participate in the “Dash for Trash and Treasure.” Folks are encouraged to pick up a garbage bag (or bring their own) on Saturday; go for a walk on the beach and enjoy some beachcombing, and put your finds in the bag. Then bring it back to the Convention Center between 8 and 9 a.m. Sunday morning, when beachcombing experts will examine your finds and determine what’s trash and what’s treasure.
Admission is $3 for adults and teens, $1 for children 5-12, and good for the entire weekend.
More information can be found at www.oseventplanner.com or on Facebook at Beachcombers Fun Fair.
UFO/Paranormal Summit
Friday-Sunday, March 6-8
Quinault Beach Resort and Casino
The fifth annual UFO/Paranormal Summit will bring together researchers of the UFO and paranormal realms to present their evidence, theories and information. It includes paranormal-related vendors, seminars on Friday and Saturday (including the popular sessions for witness testimony) and hands-on workshops Sunday.
The event is produced by Johnny Manson, who also produces the annual Sasquatch Summit each fall at QBRC. The radio personality hosts the “Morning Madness” show weekdays on KJET-FM 105.7 in Aberdeen, as well the “Strange Harbor” show Sundays at 4 p.m. on KBKW-AM 1450 and FM 100.5.
More information is available online at www.ufosummit.com or by emailing info@ufosummit.com.
