The Esprit conference, set this year for May 19-20, will once again host events on the Olympic Peninsula to benefit Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County (VHOCC).

The community, particularly VHOCC supporters and volunteers, are invited to come out and join conference participants for the talent show, Friday, May 19, and the Esprit Gala on Saturday, May 20.

Esprit attendees will showcase their myriad talents Friday at the Naval Elks Lodge, 131 E. First St. Doors open to the public at 8 p.m. After the talent show, guests are welcome to linger or dance the night away to tunes by DJ Icy Aly.

On Saturday, May 20, Northwest party band Soul Siren headlines the dance party at Red Lion Hotel’s ballroom, playing tunes from funk and soul and Top 40 dance tunes. Doors open at 8 p.m.

Both events will feature no-host bar, so guests must be 21 or older. Esprit staff and security will screen guests at each event.

A $5 per person cover charge is requested at each event. Funds raised will be donated to VHOCC, the charity of choice since Esprit began. More than $55,000 for the organization has been raised, according to Esprit organizers.

Described as one of the nation’s leading transgender conferences, Esprit offers a full program of classes and activities for everyone under the transgender umbrella including cross-dressers, transsexuals, significant others and family members. Esprit’s first conference was in 1989 in Port Angeles.

VHOCC provides end-of-life nursing care, loans of medical equipment and supplies, offers education programs, grief support groups, one-on-one bereavement services and practical workshops on life after loss without charging for services. For more information, visit volunteerhospice.org or facebook.com/Volunteerhospiceofclallamcounty, or call 360-452-1511.