Celebrate nature and get a little holiday shopping done at the 12th-annual River Center Holiday Nature Mart, set for Friday and Saturday, Nov. 16-17, at Railroad Bridge Park, 2151 Hendrickson Road.
Hours have been extended the first day (Nov. 16) to 10 a.m.-7 p.m., so attendees can also enjoy the light-lit bridge; hours on Nov. 17 are 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Parking is available off Hendrickson Road, with round-trip shuttles available for shoppers’ convenience.
Find handcrafted gifts and other items in the courtyard and in the center itself, with item sales going to support educational programs at the Dungeness River Audubon Center.
Fresh wreaths and table arrangements will be available for purchase; or, make your own wreath and add a personal touch by bringing cuttings (although local natural materials will be provided).
The event also features a sweet and savory bake sale.
Get a photo taken with one of the center’s native animals — a $5 donation is suggested.
You may have your photo taken with selected wildlife from the Center’s collection of native animals. A donation of $5 is suggested. Use your own camera or have your photo taken by a volunteer.
Raffle tickets are already on sale through the gift shop at the center; only 100 tickets ($20) will be sold for a wood sculpture of an eagle valued at $700, donated by local artist Joyce Volmut. The winning ticket will be drawn at 4 p.m. on Nov. 17 (winner need not be present).
About the sale
All proceeds from the sale benefit educational programs provided at the center and in the greater community. Staff, supported by a team of volunteers, provide experiences for children in first grade through high school ages in Sequim, as well as other schools on the North Olympic Peninsula. All experiences are hands-on science, focused especially on the wildlife of the Dungeness and Elwha watersheds and how humans interact in these areas.
The center also hosts an Adventure Club for pre-school aged children throughout the year, a variety of summer camps , talks by local and visiting experts, weekly bird walks, a River Festival at the end of September, BirdFest in April, wildflower walks in the spring, a class to create an illustrated field guide to Railroad Bridge Park combining art and science, and field trips for teens and adults.
For more about the river center, see dungenessrivercenter.org.
