Soundcheck, an event that celebrates a wealth of local talent, offers four days of music, arts and culture across multiple venues throughout the weekend in Port Townsend prior to THING festival, Aug. 17-20.

From poetry readings to dueling DJs on the dock, family-friendly artist-led activities to burlesque shows, Soundcheck has something for all ages, organizers say.

Originally created in response to the inception of THING festival in 2019, Soundcheck was formed by a group of local volunteers who wanted to introduce early-arriving festival-goers to the Port Townsend arts scene.

“Having THING in town meant we’d be hosting a relatively young, art-loving audience who may not have visited before or might not know a whole lot about Port Townsend,” Soundcheck chair Gage Pacifera said.

”It seemed like we should have some activities going on to properly introduce them.”

The festival begins with an expanded “Concerts on the Dock,” featuring music from 2-7 p.m. by local bands Cosmiphonics, True Reckoning and North Beach at Pope Marine Park.

Throughout the weekend, several Port Townsend musicians will perform in over a dozen local venues, including bars, breweries, wineries and open-air stages.

The festival includes a number of other events, including: PT Reels, a collection of film shorts exhibited at Key City Public Theatre; a poetry reading by local authors; Water Street Beats, a DJ event spanning two adjacent dance floors, and the Uptown Street Fair, a celebration of Port Townsend’s historic uptown boasting a local parade and 60-plus vendors at the Port Townsend Farmers Market.

The festival wraps Sunday with a 50th-anniversary celebration at Fort Worden State Park, a rockin’ show at the Bishop Hotel featuring The SHIFT, Andy Fischer-Price, and Jus Wright, as well as a saucy “Mean Girls” Burlesque show by The Sky Dancers at Brigid’s Loft.

Soundcheck is a signature event that supports the Port Townsend Creative District. Local sponsors include Quimper Mercantile, Urquia Law, Windermere Real Estate, the Port Townsend Arts Commission, Salish Sound, Sirens Pub, Vintage by PT Vineyards, The Bishop Hotel, New American Funding and the City of Port Townsend Lodging Tax Advisory Committee. The festival art is by local artist Michele Hagewood.

The full schedule of events is now available at ptsoundcheck.com.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Email to ptsoundcheck@gmail.com for more information.

Photo by Port Townsend Main Street Organization / Dancers enjoy a Lindy Hop dance class in Tyler Plaza.

Photo by Parade Deja View Photography / The Port Townsend community enjoys a parade at the Uptown Street Fair.