Woodfest draws 1,500 to Tokeland

By Kat Bryant Grays Harbor News Group • July 31, 2019 5:30 pm

By Kat Bryant

Grays Harbor News Group

Tokeland’s 12th annual Woodfest drew more than 1,500 people to the grounds of the historic Tokeland Hotel last weekend, according to event chairman Jeremy Bartheld.

“It’s an event that will continue to carry on and showcases not only the artistic talent of North Pacific County, but shows off our unique culture and pride of living at the end of the earth,” said Bartheld, a North Cove glassblower.

Eight carvers, 41 art and craft vendors, good food and a lineup of acoustic country/bluegrass musicians helped make it memorable.

“It’s really a team of people that make this happen,” he said: Local driftwood artist Jeffro Uitto tracked down the carvers and the wood for them to work with; hotel co-owner Zac Young handled the music; and a team of volunteers fixed free lunches for the vendors both days.

Young also stayed up all night Friday to roast a 200-pound pig for pulled pork sandwiches, Bartheld said.

This year’s festival was dedicated to Don Pickinpaugh, who died earlier this summer at age 88.

“Don lived in North Cove for several decades,” said Bartheld. “He was a big volunteer for the Chamber of Commerce and helped organize Woodfest all the years that I have been the chair of the event. He really was a pillar of our community.”

Shoalwater Bay woodcarver Earl Davis also presented the hotel owners with a large new cedar sign to place at the road. He said Earnhardt and Young contracted him to create it based on the design of the hotel’s business cards.

This was Bartheld’s fourth year organizing the annual festival. He looked around proudly as he walked his Great Dane around the grounds on Saturday.

“It’s nerve-racking and stressful leading up to the event, but by Saturday night it seems to go away,” he said. “This event seems to have a different ‘vibe’ than most. It’s a relaxed vibe that seems to carry on through the organizers to the vendors and customers.”