Grays Harbor Festival of Colors

Friday – Sunday June 7-9, just off the Damon Rd. beach approach, north of the Ocean Shores city limits, with free family fun all weekend. The festival kicks off with a lighted kite night fly at dusk Friday on the beach in front of the Best Western hotel.

Several special events take place Saturday: At 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. are “Mass Ascensions” where all participants fly the same style of kites at the same time. At 12 noon is the “Running of the Bols,” a fun foot race where kids compete while dragging large round kites behind them. From 12:30-3 p.m. the first 200 kids get to make and keep a free sled style kite.

All day Saturday and Sunday two-line and quad-line fliers will be performing in demonstrations and competitions. All weekend a Festival Event Tent will be set up in front of North Beach High School with info, schedules, festival T-shirts and collectable enamel pins.

Flag Day Parade

Saturday June 8, 11 a.m., downtown Ocean Shores. The year’s Flag Day Parade will feature two Miss Washingtons and more than 70 entries including floats, marching bands, drill teams, local businesses and more. VFW Post 8956 has secured a US Marine Corps color guard, and emcees Ernie Nelson and Johnny Manson will once again be on hand at the viewing stands in front of the Convention Center on Chance a la Mer Blvd. This is the second year the Ocean Shores Elks Lodge is producing the event, and they are still accepting applications for participants. Call the Lodge at 360-289-2581 or Parade Chairperson Marsh Sharp at 503-807-1243.

Hog Wild & Hot Spuds

The Hog Wild Ocean Shores promotion team has scheduled an open meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 11, at the Ocean Shores Convention Center to make a presentation to the general public on the three-day motorcycle festival scheduled for July 26-28, which the City has put together with the help of Quinault Beach Resort & Casino to replace the Bikers at the Beach event that was cancelled just 90 days out by its promoter. “We want all the residents to be very much attached to the success of this effort,” new Convention Center General Manager Diane Solem said. A free baked potato bar and beverages will be served at the presentation.

North Beach High School Graduation

Saturday June 15, 5 p.m. at North Beach High School. Members of the Class of 2019 will don their robes and doff their caps while friends and family cry and cheer at this annual procession and rite of passage.

Pacific NW Great Outdoor Expo & Gun Show

Featuring guns, sporting, competition and safety gear, accessories, training and more, the event runs 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, June 22 and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, June 23 at the Ocean Shores Convention Center. More info at www.bigtoppromos.com.

Sand & Sawdust Festival

The Five Star Dealerships Sand and Sawdust Festival returns to the Ocean Shores Convention Center Friday through Sunday, June 28-30. The annual event features one of the largest chainsaw shows and auctions in the Northwest, plus food, crafts, music, a beer garden, and more for the entire family. The Amateur Sand Sculpting Contest returns to the beach this year, along with a new event, The Sand Drawing Celebration led by founder and coordinator, Justin Boone (Justin the Circler), creating gigantic sand mandalas and more on the beach near the Chance a la Mer approach. As part of the event, Associated Arts of Ocean Shores has moved their national Juried Fine Arts, 3D & Photography Show to the Festival, with hundreds of pieces on display in the Convention Center. More info at www.sandandsawdust.org.

Call for Volunteers

On the 4th of July 30-plus volunteers are needed to distribute plastic bags to people visiting the beach. The city provides the bags and we hand them to people as they go onto the beach and encourage them to put the trash in the bags and drop them at a collection point near the beach approach to avoid more ocean pollution.

Organizers need two people at each of the five beach approaches from 2-8 p.m. on the 4th. Volunteers are also needed on the morning of the 5th to help clean up and pass out bags on that morning as well. Contact Larry Comparone at 425-381-0519 or Whatwhere910@live.com