Sequim Gazette staff

The Washington Old Time Fiddlers Association is having special Valentine’s Day events, Saturday, Feb. 14, at the Sequim Prairie Grange Hall, 290 Macleay Road, Sequim.

The public is welcome to free performances at 1:30 p.m. when Vivian and Phil Williams join with local musicians including the association’s Dungeness All Star Band, playing songs on fiddle, mandolin, guitar, banjo, harmonica and upright bass. In the evening, Juanita Ramsey-Jevne joins the Williamses and the local Dungeness All Star band to conduct dance lessons at 6:30 p.m. and then play “an old-fashioned Grange dance” beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Caller Ramsey-Jevne is well known for her interest in local fiddler and contra dance clubs. Dances will include a variety of couple dances including contra and square dances, polka, schottische, two-step, waltz and period couple dances.

Champion fiddler Vivian Williams and her husband, Phil, from Seattle, will share their knowledge of Northwest fiddle music. She performs regularly for old-time dancing and is one of the leading old-time and bluegrass fiddlers on the West Coast. She has won many fiddle contests in the U.S. and Canada. She plays primarily in the old-time fiddle styles found among fiddlers in the Pacific Northwest, with an influence of older era bluegrass. He plays several stringed instruments. The Williamses play the hoedowns, reels, waltzes, dance tunes and songs that came to the Pacific Northwest with the pioneers as they were played in the old days.

All ages are welcome both events. Admission to the afternoon performances is free.

Admission to the evening dances is a suggested donation of $5 for adults. Youth 16 years old and younger are free.

The WOTFA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving, promoting and perpetuating the art of traditional old-time fiddling and and associated arts and skills.