Sequim Gazette staff

There was quite the celebration this weekend over the Dungeness River.

 

Many of Sequim’s students, giant salmon and even Smokey Bear were invited for the 13th Dungeness River Festival. Organizers estimate that about 2,500 people flowed through the Dungeness River Audubon Center and Railroad Bridge Park.

 

Powell Jones, executive director of the Audubon Center, said his favorite part always is seeing students having fun interacting with the different agencies educating them about issues like watersheds.

 

Friday of the festival hosts several activities and brings 700 Sequim students and 200 private school and homeschool students by bike, bus and car to the park.

 

Jones said children loved the event so much that many came back on Saturday.

 

They also tried jumping and flapping with the Animal Olympics, going on scavenger hunts, learning about bear and cougar safety, and more. Attendees took in live music, educational lectures and tours on landscaping and the river, saw local art and ate some good food.

 

Olympic Driftwood Sculptors celebrated its fourth anniversary inside the Audubon Center Saturday and Sunday to a great turnout, said instructor Tuttie Peetz.

 

She said the center saw several hundred people on Sunday, which is much more than normal weekends.

“The absolutely gorgeous weekend didn’t hurt either,” she said.

 

The club also sold 700 tickets for its driftwood raffle to benefit one Sequim high school senior going in the art field for college.

 

At the River Center, its next big event is the Christmas Bird Count on Dec. 17. Call the center, 2151 W. Hendrickson Road, at 681-4076 for more information. Cost is $5 for adults, free for students.

 

The center continues its weekly bird watches at 8:30 a.m. Wednesdays with other events on its website at www.DungenessRiverCenter.org.

 

For more information on the Olympic Driftwood Sculptors, call 681-2535, visit www.olympicdriftwoodsculptors.org or e-mail info@olympicdriftwoodsculptors.org.