By Scott D. Johnston

One of the North Coast’s most popular events take place Saturday morning at North Bay Park in Ocean Shores, with the 10th annual Youth Fishing Derby. The free event brings together hundreds of kids, parents, grandparents and friends, plus around 60 volunteers, 20 sponsors, and several hundred terrified (but tasty) trout.

Registration begins at 7 a.m. with lines in the water at 8 for area youngsters, some of whom will catch a fish for the first time. They’re also in a friendly competition for prizes in four age divisions, 5-7, 8-10, 11-13 and 14-17. In addition, there is a portable trout tank on shore for pre-school age anglers.

This is the fourth year the Ocean Shores Elks Lodge has produced the event. Mark Swanson was the Exalted Ruler of the lodge when it agreed to take over the event from its founder, Joe Reason.

In a few years, the event became so popular that “it needed bigger support” that an active community group like the Elks could muster, Swanson explained. Involving the Elks made it “easier to get the word out, get more volunteers, and get access to grants.

“We usually do at least one event each year at the lodge and use the proceeds for the derby” he said. An Elks National Foundation grant also helps support the event each year.

“It’s the biggest outdoor event for children on the North Coast,” Swanson said. It has always taken place on a Saturday in late April or early May, but a few years ago settled on running the day before Mothers’ Day.

A labor-intensive effort, the derby has volunteers doing everything from registering kids and giving each a free t-shirt, to getting rods and reels ready and putting on life jackets, to offering encouragement, advice and assistance, to cleaning, measuring and recording the kids’ catches. In addition to adult-supervised fishing from the banks and dock of Duck Lake in North Bay Park, around a dozen boat owners volunteer to take kids out on the water.

“There’s a lot going on,” Swanson said. “My pontoon boat’s been there the last five years, but I haven’t been able to go out on it during the event!”

Ocean Shores IGA provides a free lunch to everyone, with several hundred hot dogs served each year. Eighteen additional sponsors support the event in various ways.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife stocks rainbow trout in Duck Lake just before spring break. Then the day before the event, 250-300 “trophy trout,” measuring 21” or longer, are planted. The kids “usually catch 30 to 50 of the big lunkers,” Swanson said.

Despite the complexity of the preparations and execution of the event, its purpose remains sweetly simple: “The smiles on their faces,” Swanson said with a broad grin of his own. “These kids go around with giant smiles on their faces all day long!”

More information is available online at www.osgov.com/files/Kids Fishing Derby .pdf.

May Calendar

13: Seabrook celebrates Norwegian Independence Day starting at 10 a.m. with its annual Syttende Mai Parade at the historic Dorothy Anderson Cabin, which was built by a Norwegian immigrant. The parade ends with an ice cream social at Meriweather Street. Traditional clothing is encouraged.

Syttende Mai means “17th of May” in Norwegian. Many first settlers of the Washington coast were Norwegian immigrants. To honor this heritage, Seabrook has hosted annual Syttende Mai festivities since 2011.

13-14: Shoppin’ at the Shore at the Ocean Shores Convention Center. Shop for mom and visit the vendors over the weekend. Online at mothersdayoceanshores@gmail.com.

26-28: Grays Harbor Expo at the Ocean Shores Convention Center, including trade show, ice sculpture, Memorial Day ceremony on Friday to honor local Purple Heart recipients, along with flag presentation from VFW Post 8956. Online at www.graysharborexpo.com.

June

3: Wearable Art Show at the Ocean Shores Convention Center, www.oswearableart.com.

3-4: Festival of Colors kite flying weekend on the beach at Ocean Shores. Call (360) 289-4103 for more information.

3: 2017 Hood To Coast Washington (new event). Seabrook will be hosting this inaugural event that sold out the first day of registration. Hood to Coast Washington will span 77 miles through the Evergreen State, beginning from Hood Canal and ending at the Pacific Ocean.

10: Flag Day Parade, through downtown Ocean Shores, starting at the city gates and ending at the Convention Center. Biggest Flag Day parade in Western Washington, (360) 289-2314 to participate.

16-18: Seabrook will be the site of the second annual l Beach Volleyball Tournament hosted by the Alki Volleyball Association on June 16-18. Watch juniors, amateurs, and pros play for prize money. Also a beginner’s fours tournament for charity. http://www.seabrookwa.com/events

23-25: Sand &Sawdust Festival, at the Ocean Shores Convention Center and on the main Ocean Shores Beach south of Chance a la Mer beach approach. Sand sculpting competition and chainsaw artist auctions daily. (360)289-2451.

July

7-9: Ocean Shores Beach Blast, with beach volleyball tournament planned at the beach south of Chance a la Mer beach approach, www.oceanshoresbeachblast.com.

28-30: Bikers at the Beach, www.bikersatthebeach.com, motorcycle event at the Ocean Shores Convention Center, with Hog Wild Weekend also ongoing simultaneously at Quinault Beach Resort and Casino.

August

12: Ocean Shores Woof-a-Thon. Annual event honoring our pets and raising funds and awareness for animal welfare. At North Bay Park, with dog walk through the neighborhood. Online at www.oceanshoreswoofathon.org.

18-20: 12’s Fan Fest and Beach Party in Ocean Shores, with events at the Convention Center, around town and at Quinault Beach Resort &Casino. Largest preseason gathering of Seahawks fans, www.12sfanfest.com.

26-27: Find Your Treasure Gift Fair (new event). At the Ocean Shores Convention Center, gpsdirectsellersnetwork@gmail.com.

September

1-3: AAOS Arts &Crafts Festival at the Ocean Shores Convention Center, www.associatedarts.org.

1-3: Annual Kelpers Festival and Shake Rat Rendezvous, featuring tug of war competition between Moclips and Pacific Beach, kid’s parade, full parade in Pacific Beach on Sunday, and various logging competitions.

15-17: Whale of Quilt Show at the Ocean Shores Convention Center, (509) 715-9082 for information.

October

25-29: Irish Music Festival, centered at Galway Bay and the Ocean Shores Convention Center, www.galwaybacyirishpub.com.

November

24-26: Winter Fanta-Sea pre-Christmas festival of holiday gifts and vendors, Ocean Shores Convention Center, (360) 289-9586.

Editor’s note: If you have events or items that you would like to add to the Coast Calendar, please send them via email in a word document along with any photo attachments to editor@northcoastnews.com