Stardust Big Band sets holiday dance at Elks Lodge

Enjoy some big band sound and jazzy holiday music with the Stardust Big Band, who puts on a holiday concert from 6-8:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 11, at the Sequim Elks Lodge, 143 Port Williams Road.

Tess Teel will be singing top hits from the Great American Songbook, with standards from the big band era and more, for listening and dancing.

Submitted photo Tess Teel and the Stardust Big Band offer a holiday concert at the Sequim Elks Lodge on Dec. 11.

Admission is $12, or $10 for Elks members with valid card.

Based in Sequim, the 17-piece Stardust Big Band prides itself on creating a quality musical product for people of all ages and backgrounds to enjoy. A typical performance includes many beloved classics from swing era luminaries such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Glenn Miller and more.

For more about the event or the band, visit fb.me/e/2ngv4e0PV or bigbandstardust.com.

Or, call director Marge Rosen at 360-486-4687.

Children’s book authors to talk publishing

Four local independent authors will discuss how they develop story and art for their picture books, as well as how they publish them, at the next Writers Read series, set for 2-3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14, at Blue Whole Gallery, 129. W. Washington St.

Submitted photo The ongoing Writers Read programs, hosted by Olympic Peninsula Authors, hosts four four local independent authors for a discussion at Sequim’s Blue Whole Gallery on Dec. 14.

Featured authors include Brenda Carlsen, Melanie Dundy, Pam Fries and Susan Wolf. Each will do a short reading from one of their publications then answer audience questions at this free event.

Blue Whole Gallery brings together more than 35 Pacific Northwest artists in a creative celebration of fine art. For more about the gallery, email Jolene Sanborn at Bluewholegallery1@gmail.com.

Olympic Peninsula Authors was founded to promote local writers. The group hosts Fourth Friday open mic readings on Zoom, curates readings at Port Angeles Fine Arts Center (PAFAC), and publishes an annual anthology. For more information, email to olypenauthors@olypen.com.

Fiddlers to jam Saturday in Sequim

Members of the Washington Old Time Fiddlers Association will meet on Saturday, Dec. 10 at the Gathering Place, 135 Fairway Dr., for a jam session starting at 11:15 a.m. and finishes at 3:30 p.m.

The group plays “old time” music, a genre of North American folk music played on acoustic instruments generally centering on a combination of fiddle and plucked string instruments including the guitar, banjo and mandolin.

Group jams often include dobros, dulcimers, autoharps and ukuleles. Attendees are invited to play or just learn.

There is no charge to attend, though donations in support of the group’s youth scholarship program are welcome.

Attendees are also encouraged to bring a snack to share.

PAFAC to host second Wintertide Festival of Lights

The Port Angeles Fine Arts Center (1203 E. Lauridsen Blvd., Port Angeles) hosts the second-annual Wintertide Festival of Lights on Saturday, Dec. 10.

The festival will include outdoor artworks in the 2022 Light Art Experience, food and drink vendors, shopping at the Makers Market, incredible live performances and interactive light art stations and activities for all ages.

Tickets are required for the Festival of Lights and can be purchased at pafac.kindful.com/e/wintertidefestival2022.

The festival will begin with a lantern walk through Webster’s Woods, where community members are encouraged to bring a lantern or light and join the opening procession. Staging for the community lantern walk will begin at 4:45 p.m. and the festival will kick off at 5 p.m.

Festival attendees will be guided through the forest paths by 16 lighted art installations on display throughout the 5-acre property for the month-long Light Art Experience. Several additional temporary light displays will be up for the festival evening only, including an interactive Zen Light Table by local artist Ross Brown.

All community members can visit the Maker’s Market from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., but from 5-8 p.m. the grounds will be open only to Festival of Lights ticket holders.

For more information, visit pafac.org.

Orchestra celebrates No. 90 with world premiere

The Port Angeles Symphony Orchestra will celebrate its 90th anniversary with the world premiere of a special concerto set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10 at the Port Angeles High School Performing Arts Center, 304 E. Park Ave.

PHOTO BY Diane Urbani de la Paz Double bass player Stephen Schermer is the guest artist at Port Angeles Symphony’s ”Concerto for Double Bass and Orchestra” performance on Dec. 10.

The symphony’s holiday concert features the “Concerto for Double Bass and Orchestra,” with guest soloist Stephen Schermer, a Clallam County native.

Maestro Jonathan Pasternack will also lead the orchestra in festive music by Tchaikovsky, Bach and Strauss, plus Tyzik’s “Chanukah Suite.”

The public is also invited to the dress rehearsal that morning at 10 a.m.

Get tickets at portangelessymphony.org or by calling 360-457-5579.

Rachel Storck/Silt Photography Carolyn Keene (center) was the Squatchcon 2022 cosplay winner. The 2023 event is set for March 30-April 2; organizers are seeking artists, artisans, and small businesses to participate in the artist alley. See squatchconpa.com.