Transformed with festive lights, decorations and a grand walkway of pumpkins, the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center’s Webster’s Woods heralded in the Celebration of Shadows Fall Festival on Oct. 23.
Organizers say this first-time event drew more than 500 people to participate in shadow theater and pumpkin carving workshops, along with evening festivities that included a pumpkin walk and contest through Webster’s Woods and an interactive shadow puppet theater improv performance on the outdoor stage.
Photo courtesy of Port Angeles Fine Arts Center
Community members contributed 65 carved pumpkins to the contest, with several entries created during the workshop led by local artist Nathan Shields; Agnew Grocery donated more than 50 pumpkins to the event.
Winners of the pumpkin carving contest were first place winner Waverly Mead, runner-up Casey Bruning and third place finisher Mel Messineo. Mead won the grand prize, a basket with tickets to Wintertide Festival of Lights and the PA Winter Ice Village, lift passes to Hurricane Ridge and other items donated by MOSS and Brown’s Outdoor. Jessica Bruning, Shaelynn Holady and Gena Mead were also awarded honorable mentions, while Vivian Hughes won the glow-in-the-dark scavenger hunt drawing .
Photo courtesy of Port Angeles Fine Arts Center
“We are so grateful for the support from community businesses and fellow non-profit organizations as well as those intrepid community members who showed up to enjoy a festive fall evening despite the rainy skies,” PAFAC executive director Christine Loewe said.
Community members had the opportunity for an evening visit to the gallery for the latest exhibition, “Chasing Shadows,” curated by Wenatchee Artist Terry Valdez; on temporary display were three original artworks by Veldez.
Photo courtesy of Port Angeles Fine Arts Center
“Chasing Shadows” will remain on display at the historic Esther Webster Gallery during regular gallery hours, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., through Nov. 14. All artworks in the exhibition are for sale, online and in person. Entrance to the gallery is free/by donation.
For more about the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center, visit pafac.org.
