12th-annual Beat the Blues Barn Dance

What: Family-friendly music, dancing, activities

When: 2-11 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 29

Where: Clallam County Fairgrounds*, 1608 W. 16th St, Port Angeles

Featured bands: The Olson Band, Sweater Weather String Band, FarmStrong, Red Yarn, Sound Waves, The Harmonica Pocket, Aspire Academy of Expressive Arts of Sequim

Note: Event raises funds for Five Acre School tuition assistance, special equipment

More info: www.TheBarnDance.org

* — New location

It’s once again time to beat the blues.

Five Acre School’s 12th Beat the Blues Barn Dance on Saturday, Feb. 29, offers a full day of entertainment for children and adults at a new venue this year, thanks to the popularity of the annual event.

A full schedule of events for the whole family is set for 2- 11 p.m. at the Clallam County Fairgrounds, 1608 W. 16th St, Port Angeles. (Previously, the Beat the Blues Barn Dance was held at the Big Barn Farm off of Kitchen-Dick Road in Sequim, but crowds grew to an estimated 1,200 in recent years.)

This year’s events kick off with family entertainment acts and kids’ activities from 2- 6 p.m.; admission is $6 at the door; children 12 and younger get in free.

The rest of the event features live music and dancing is scheduled for 6-11 p.m.

Tickets are $20 in advanced or $25 at the door.

Get tickets and more information at www.TheBarnDance.org.

All proceeds from the event go toward the Five Acre School Tuition Assistance and Special Equipment Fund. The Five Acre School and The Five Acre School PSO are both 501(c)(3) nonprofits.

The lineup

Daytime activities include performances by: Red Yarn, a Portland, Ore.-based family performer who combines folk songs and puppetry into enthusiastic shows; Sound Waves, a multi-age student marimba group made up of parents and students of the Five Acre School; The Harmonica Pocket, a Port Townsend group leading a musical adventure filled with song, and Aspire Academy of Expressive Arts of Sequim, who will be showing off dance skills between the musical performances.

New to this year’s Beat the Blues Barn Dance is a full building dedicated for the Kid Zone, featuring several creative activities to engage and entertain the entire family.

Sequim restaurants Alder Wood Bistro and Pacific Pantry will be at the Barn Dance providing food all day. Beers from Port Townsend Brewing Co. and Fathom & League, wines from Harbinger Winery and ciders from Finnriver Farm and Cidery will be available at the “saloon” starting at 5 p.m.

Starting at 6 p.m., several live bands are on the barn dance docket, including FarmStrong, a peninsula tree-piece playing country, blues and bluegrass music from the 1920s-1950s as well as folk, rock, gospel and soul music of the 1950s, 60s, 70s and beyond, and the Sweater Weather String Band, a Bellingham-based group with roots on the Olympic Peninsula (band member Will Jevne’s parents founded Five Acre School in 1994, and he himself is an alumni) that bring an “energetic blend of old-time, western swing and Celtic styles.” to the stage.

Headlining the evening entertainment is The Olson Band, an award-winning country band made up of members from Olympia and Nashville, Tenn.

The event brings back the popular silent auction and raffle. Event organizers say this year’s silent auction features an eclectic collection of high-quality donated items, ranging from a homemade puppet theater to gift baskets and gift certificates from local businesses.

The raffle features an overnight vacation package for two to Victoria, B.C., “Taste of the Peninsula” with more than a dozen restaurant gift certificates, an Elwah River getaway Airbnb along with a guided kayak tour from Adventure Kayaking, a farm basket featuring bounty from local farms and a guided fly-fishing tour.

For more information, contact the Five Acre School Parent Service Organization at 5acrepso@gmail.com.