Sandsations festival will run July 10-14

PACIFIC COUNTY — The annual Sandsations festival will run July 10-14 at the Bolstad Avenue Beach Approach in Long Beach. Activities begin Wednesday, July 10, with construction of sand sculptures with vendors and face-painting and continue Thursday and Friday. Main events will be Saturday, July 13, including sandcastle judging, a beer garden from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and live music from Fred Carter, Joel Underwood and Daryl Beau. The marina mermaid will appear from noon to 5 p.m. Vendors and face-painting continue on the final day, Sunday, July 14.

Timberland Regional Library Anywhere Library van

PACIFIC COUNTY — The Timberland Regional Library Anywhere Library van will make stops at the Peninsula Senior Activity Center, 21603 O Lane, Ocean Park, 10:30 a.m. July 10; Bay Center Food Bank, 2 Main St., Bay Center, 4 p.m. July 12; St. Joseph Parish and Holy Family, 2800 Highway 6, Raymond, 10 a.m. July 16; and the Raymond Senior Center, 324 Jackson Ave., Raymond, 11:30 a.m. July 18; and United Methodist Church, 35 Second St., Bay Center, 3:30 p.m. July 18. For details, call Emily Libecki at 360-489-4144 or Email: anywherelibrary@trl.org.

‘Little Women: A Little Musical’ continues

FORT COLUMBIA — “Little Women: A Little Musical” by Jay Richards, directed by Carly Keone, will be presented by the Peninsula Association of Performing Artists at the Fort Columbia Theater, 475 U.S. Highway 101, Chinook. Shows are 7 p.m. July 12-13, 19-20, 26-27, Aug. 2-3; 2 p.m. July 14, 21, 28 and Aug. 4. Tickets are $16 to 23, available online at www.papatheater.com, at Okie’s Thriftway in Ocean Park or by calling (360) 436-4448. A Washington State Parks Discover Pass is not required to enter the park to attend the theater.

It’s always fun at local state parks

Ezza Rose will perform at the Waikiki Beach Amphitheater at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 13. “Come hear the flowy rhythm, aggressive guitars and dreamy melodies of Ezza Rose,” State Parks says of this performance, which is free but requires a Discover Pass for nearby parking. “Situated in an outdoor amphitheater, the scenery is spectacular. Performances are 11⁄2 hours and family friendly. Seating is limited, so bring a chair.”

Every Thursday evening at 7 p.m., visit the Benson Beach Amphitheater to learn “The Story of the Salmon. Come swim the salmon life cycle through the eyes of a coho salmon named Sumi! Follow her journey to the ocean and back, discovering her importance in local culture. Paint your own salmon rock and take it home!”

The Fort Columbia Commander’s House is open to the public 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Thursday through Sunday, starting July 5. This is the first time the building has been open for tours in a decade The Fort Columbia Interpretive Center will also be open from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Thursday to Sunday, with guided tours of Battery 246 available on weekends.

Summer hours at the North Head Lighthouse are in place. The famous light is open daily for tours, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. through August, with tours happening every 15 minutes.

Cape Disappointment 1.5-mile guided hikes depart each Saturday, Monday and Wednesday from the Coastal Forest Loop trailhead (near the Cape D Store) at 2 p.m. Saturday’s hike focuses on learning to identify types of plants in our local temperate rain forest. Monday’s hike centers on learning about the old-growth forest and how it participates in a global system that maintains our atmosphere. Wednesday’s hike, “The Logs of History,” examines how the insides of the forest’s ancient trees serve as witnesses to “nature-centric” local history.

Long Beach Peninsula Garden Tour

The annual garden tour on the Long Beach Peninsula, titled “Music in the Gardens,” will be on Saturday, July 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will feature six Peninsula coastal gardens. Each garden will have live music, artists and some may serve refreshments. It is a wonderful way to spend a day visiting gardens, meeting the gardeners who have mastered the art of successful gardening on the coast and visiting a variety of Peninsula neighborhoods. The garden tour is one of four unique Water Music Society annual events. All events support music and art programs in the Ocean Beach School District. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased by cash or check starting July 6th at three venues:

• The Basketcase Greenhouse, 12106 Sandridge Rd, Long Beach

• The Bay Avenue Gallery, 1306 Bay Ave, Ocean Park

• Nansen Florals, 3715 L Place, Seaview

Tickets may also be purchased online at tickettomato.com. However, it will be necessary to redeem your printed online-purchased ticket for a tour-day map of the gardens at one of the above three mentioned venues. Visit our Music in the Gardens Tour Facebook page for updates on musicians, artists and raffle prizes featured in the gardens this year. Questions? Contact Nancy Allen at 360-642-2507.

Clamshell Railroad Days chugging down the track

ILWACO — Clamshell Railroad Days, an annual celebration of model trains and local train history, is back at the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum July 20 and 21. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days and will feature model train layouts from a number of regional train clubs. Admission is $5 for the weekend and includes a commemorative button. Children under 12 are admitted free. Proceeds support museum operations. Layouts from a variety of regional model railroad clubs will be on display, including from the Cascade Z Modelers, Mt. Rainier N Scale Club, Longview, Kelso and Rainier Model Railroad Club, Pacific Northwest On30 Modular Group and the Peninsula Model Railroad Club. Also on display will be Dean and Donna Mead’s Lego Train. The Lone Wolfe Forge will also be onsite doing blacksmith demonstrations. Timberland Regional Library will be onsite on Saturday only with a kids’ craft station. They will hold children’s story times inside the Ilwaco freight depot at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. The railcar Nahcotta will be open for viewing Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Trolley tours for sightseeing, historical commentary

PENINSULA — Trolley tours organized by the Long Beach Merchants Association feature a sightseeing journey through the Long Beach Peninsula with historical commentary continue Fridays and Saturdays until Aug. 30-31. Tours are 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and 12-17-year-olds and $10 for 5-11-year-olds, available online at www.simpletix.com/e/history-trolley-tour-tickets-138148. They begin at the Welcome Center at 212 Pacific Ave. S., Long Beach.

Weekly Chinook School Market now underway

CHINOOK — The Friends of Chinook School group presents a series of summer markets featuring local artists and makers. Experience unique products, creativity and skill shown in handmade products, artisanal crafts, fine art, jewelry and more! The weekly Chinook School Market is being held at the Historic Chinook School, 810 State Hwy. 101, as part of the 100th year Century Celebration. There are both indoor and outdoor vendor spaces and plenty of free parking. The hours are every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. through September. Learn more at ChinookSchool.com.

Peninsula Senior Activity Center

OCEAN PARK — See complete calendar of events at tinyurl.com/Senior-Center-calendar. Ongoing senior center services: Medical equipment for loan: A wide array of medical equipment that has been donated and is available for loan. Drop by or call during office hours. Haircuts: Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (call 360-665-3999). Meals on Wheels: call Sally 360-533-3311, Mondays and Wednesdays. Dial-A-Ride: provides service in Pacific County only.

Master Gardeners Plant Clinics

SOUTH BEND — The WSU Master Gardeners of Pacific County will be hosting twice monthly Plant/Answer clinics from April through September 2024, on the second and fourth Mondays of each month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the WSU Extension Office located in the courthouse annex building at 1216 W. Robert Bush Drive in South Bend. Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer your home gardening questions about plants, soil, insects, and other topics. Stop by and see us to get your gardening questions answered. For more information contact the Pacific County Extension Office at 360-875-9331.

AlAnon meetings on Peninsula and Zoom

AlAnon Family Groups are open to any adult. The only requirement for membership is that there is a concern about problem drinking by a relative or friend. The Ocean Park AlAnon group meets every Monday, 1:30-2:30 p.m. at the Ocean Park Library Meeting Room, 1308 256th Lane in Ocean Park. Contact Maureen McCaslin at 360-214-8086. Zoom AlAnon group meets Fridays at 10 a.m. To receive a Zoom invitation, email dbelais@yahoo.com. A New Day meets at the Timberland Library on Mondays at 1:30 p.m.