The Port Angeles Fine Arts Center, along with premier sponsor DA Davidson, hosts the Wintertide Festival of Lights on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 10-11. The festival will include the Makers Market, outdoor artworks in the 2021 Light Art Experience, food and drink vendors, live performances and activities for all ages.

On the evening of Friday, Dec. 10, visitors are invited to take their time shopping in the gallery for holiday gifts during the extended Makers Market hours and enjoy the outdoor courtyard, complete with live music by Port Townsend performer Abakis, heated seating, food provided by Pacific Pantry and drinks provided by Roosevelt.

Visitors will also have the chance to create a lantern and bring it back the following day to join the community lantern parade. There is no fee for the Friday evening activities.

On Saturday, Dec. 11, there will be a lantern workshop at 10 a.m. followed by an afternoon break before the lantern parade staging and festival begins at 5 p.m. Community members are invited to bring lanterns they’ve created at one of the PAFAC community workshops or their own DIY lantern for the parade through Webster’s Woods to start the celebration. (Note: no candles or open flames in the lanterns.)

Festival attendees will also enjoy lighted art illuminating the forest paths, glow in the dark art stations, food and drinks from Pacific Pantry, Fogtown Coffee, and The Roosevelt, and fire and light performances by The Fractal Phase and Shadow Sail Theater in the meadow. Saturday is a ticketed event, and tickets must be bought in advance.

“We are excited to add this first year festival into the mix of our Wintertide Festivities to bring our community together to keep the lamplights of creativity burning during the darkest time of year,” Port Angeles Fine Arts Center Executive Director Christine Loewe said. “We hope that the lantern parade will become a beloved annual tradition and inspire the artist in each person.

“This year we have also placed greater emphasis on increasing the number of light artists and will be adding additional lighting into the park so that folks can enjoy a nightly walk through the forest to take in the light beyond the festival weekend.”

Starting Nov. 26, 11 artists had their light art on display throughout the five acre property and several additional temporary displays will be up for the Saturday festival on Dec. 11. Among those sharing their work is artist Heather Dawn Sparks of Bellingham whose piece Edge Effect is part of the month long outdoor exhibit and she will additionally have a temporary 8-foot-tall technicolor light box installation that she will invite the audience to step inside of during the festival.

“Through her work Sparks conjures the wilds of nature into expressive visual narratives through the shifting spectre of shadow and light. We think the audience will love engaging with her life sized intricate cut-outs inspired by the natural world,” Loewe said.

Community members are encouraged to buy their tickets early, as attendance will be limited to accommodate Covid guidelines. For those travelling from out of town, there is a discounted room rate at the Red Lion Hotel Port Angeles Harbor that is available to all ticket buyers. Tickets are available online at pafac.kindful.com/e/wintertide-festival-3.

Tickets should be purchased in advance — there will be limited sales at the door.

For more information about the Wintertide Festival of Lights, visit pafac.org/wintertidefestival.html or contact Rachel at rachel@pafac.org.

Masks are required for all attendees at all times in the gallery. Those who are fully vaccinated may remove their masks in the courtyard if able to maintain 6 feet of social distance.

The Port Angeles Fine Arts Center exists to honor the legacy of Esther Webster by connecting people to the arts and inspiring the artist within each person. Learn more about the organization by visiting pafac.org.