This calendar is the place to find fun events happening throughout Grays Harbor County including Aberdeen, Hoquiam, Westport, Ocean Shores, Elma, Montesano and beyond.
Have an event that isn’t listed? Please email events@GraysHarborTalk.com with the following information:
- Name of Event
- Date, time and location (name of business if applicable and complete address)
- Organizer(s) name
- Cost
- URL to purchase tickets
- Website URL
- SHORT description of event
- Photo
Our editors will review and post within a few business days.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
“We are coming together because we are tired of Grays Harbor County’s economic devastation and we are working together to make our city a better place for everyone,” says Mashyla Buckmaster, organizer with Harbor Rising and Chaplains the Harbor.
June 12th, 2018
CONTACTS:
Mashyla Buckmaster (360) 580-4278
Stina Janssen (360) 301-3340
Downtown Future Housing Site Tour and Vigil to advance vision for 2,000 affordable housing units in Aberdeen Revitalization Plan
Aberdeen, WA – Residents of Aberdeen who have experienced homelessness first-hand and housing-insecure families advocate that affordable housing must be a central emphasis in Aberdeen’s Revitalization Plan. Saturday, under the banner “Harbor Rising,” we will gather to welcome the Most Reverend Michael Curry, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, to the streets of Aberdeen. Having sermonized at the Royal Wedding, Curry is now an international household name. Presiding Bishop Curry’s presence honors the work of our local community, which is rising to the challenge as we face down a housing crisis and advance lasting solutions.
Local residents will lead a downtown tour highlighting both our plight and our potential for future affordable housing and treatment centers, demonstrating our vision to the Presiding Bishop and members of the New Poor People’s Campaign visiting from across Washington State. We will end the day with a vigil at Aberdeen City Hall to honor the many lives lost due to homelessness in our community. The tour will meet at 3:00pm Saturday, June 16th in the parking lot next to Jay’s Fruit Stand (corner of South G St and E Heron St, Aberdeen, WA 98520) and will end at City Hall (200 E Market St) for a vigil.
Making housing a central priority in Aberdeen’s Revitalization Plan would address issues at the heart of citywide concern for Aberdeen’s economic future.
In recent weeks, the City has responded to homelessness with ordinances that would punish homeless people for the housing crisis. There have been community efforts to evict the largest homeless camp in the city. Like the City and the business community, we want a better future for our city and we want businesses and workers to do well.
We mourn the devastating loss of the Aberdeen Armory, which housed vital services including Meals on Wheels, the Museum of History, and Coastal Community Action Program, a provider of housing assistance. Despite the backlog the fire’s destruction will place on housing resources, we know that as a resilient community, we will rise.
Those who know homelessness firsthand have a vision to restore our county and its people by rebuilding our housing stock. One in sixteen people—approximately 1,000 people—are homeless in Aberdeen (DSHS 2017). For every 100 extremely low-income families in Grays Harbor, there are just 17 housing affordable units available. For the 1,775 extremely low-income households in the county, there are only 615 affordable units available, and for the 1,715 very low-income households, only 605 affordable units are available (American Community Survey Data 2016).
Meanwhile in Aberdeen, 11.7% of housing, 862 units, stand vacant (US Census 2010), most of these currently unfit for human habitation. We propose that 2,000 units be built or restored in Aberdeen to fill the gap in affordable housing availability. Harbor Rising imagines responsible agencies partnering with local organizations to provide housing including pathways to home-ownership and employment in housing construction and restoration. The Future Housing Site tour, led by people who have experienced homeless and housing insecurity first-hand.
The tour will end at City Hall for a vigil for those who have died on the street, prayer, and words from Presiding Bishop Curry.
Harbor Rising is made up of people with experiences of homelessness and housing insecurity, local residents, and organizations including Chaplains on the Harbor, Democracy Rising, Blind Justice and more.

Join us in celebrating award-winning author Peter Donahue’s new book Three Sides Water at Harbor House Writers with novelist Scott Elliott in Aberdeen on Saturday, June 23, 2018. Washington author Peter Donahue will read from his new book Three Sides Water at Harbor House Writers with novelist Scott Elliott in Aberdeen on June 23, 2018 at 12:00 PM. In his latest work of literary fiction, Donahue distills the raw and vivid world of the Olympic Peninsula into a stunning work that challenges what it means to live life with purpose and integrity.
THE BOOK
Across the dramatic landscape of the Pacific Northwest’s Olympic Peninsula, Donahue’s characters take extraordinary actions to transcend the limitations imposed upon them. Marguerite struggles with the emotional aftermath of sexual assault amidst the mysticism and untamed wilderness of the Pacific coast in the 1920s. Avery navigates life as a “juvenile delinquent” while the social and political convulsions of the 1960s transform the world around him. Chris escapes the present-day mill town where he grew up, only to find he must reconcile his true self with the troubling persona he’s taken on.
THE AUTHOR
Peter Donahue is the author of the novels Clara and Merritt and Madison House, winner of the 2005 Langum Prize for American Historical Fiction, and the short story collection The Cornelius Arms. He is co-editor of the 2016 edition of the memoir Seven Years on the Pacific Slope and the anthologies Reading Seattle and Reading Portland. His Retrospective Review column on Northwest literature has appeared in Columbia: The Magazine of Northwest History since 2005. He teaches at Wenatchee Valley College at Omak and lives in Winthrop, Washington.
In addition to reading passages from each of the short novels in Three Sides Water, Peter will be spending some time discussing Olympic Peninsula literature and fielding questions from the audience.

In 1968, Vietnam, civil rights, women’s liberation, and conservation coalesced—and tragedy led the 6 o’clock news. It changed us in ways still rippling a half-century later. 1968: The Year That Rocked Washington features a collection of online stories and an exhibit at the Washington State Capitol with profiles, compelling photos, and artifacts that document the activism and aftershocks of a landmark year in world history.
The American Lung Association is hosting our second annual cycling event Reach the Beach Washington on September 29, 2018. This cycling event takes place over a fast and flat course with multiple starting points. 100 miles from Lacey, 88 miles from Olympia, 44 miles from Elma, and 25 miles from Cosmopolis, all ending on the beautiful beach in Westport. There will be rest stops ever 15 miles, with hot lunches and hydration at each stop. There will also be bike mechanics along the route to provide quick fixes to popped tires, chain malfunctions, etc. Once across the finish line, we will celebrate with good food, good drinks, and good company!
For more information about the race and volunteer opportunities please visit our website reachthebeachwa.org
*VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR REST STOPS*

The Puyallup Festival of Books celebrates its 5th year with an amazing line up of authors and events.
On Friday, October 5th, we’ll have an evening reception, which is free and open to the public, with beer and wine will be available for purchase (cash only). Enjoy an episode of Longmire before a talk with Craig Johnson, author of the Longmire novels.
On Saturday, October 6th, Jeremy McCarter, co-author of the New York Times #1 Best Seller Hamilton: The Revolution, will join us at Pioneer Park Pavilion in the afternoon to discuss his work with Lin-Manuel Miranda writing the “Hamiltome.”
Harvest Moon, Storyteller and Quinault Tribal Ambassador shares stories from the Northwest Coast Indian tradition. In partnership with Hoquiam Timberland Library.
The Friends of the Elma Timberland Library are hosting their Fall Book Sale. Pick up great books at even better prices!
The Friends of the Elma Timberland Library are hosting their Fall Book Sale. Pick up great books at even better prices!

Support the Central Park PTO and join us at the 3rd Annual Central Park Bazaar. Enjoy a free cup coffee or hot chocolate, and shop for baked goods, Christmas decorations, clothing, jewelry, and more! We are raffling off a Seahawk’s & Chocolate basket this year.
Santa will be available from 11:30 am-2: 30 pm.
We look forward to seeing you soon and thank you for your support.
The Friends of the Elma Timberland Library are hosting their Fall Book Sale. Pick up great books at even better prices!
Storyteller Rebecca Hom will share the stories of several Women Airforce Service Pilots, (WASPs) as well as the history of the program. The WASPs were an essential part of the US military’s air efforts during WWII.
The WASP training base was in Sweetwater, Texas – A dry desolate place where 1,100 women trained at Avenger Field, during WWII. They were selected from more than 25,000 applicants from all over the United States. Those chosen were highly qualified civilian pilots, and became the first females to earn their Silver Wings and fly military aircraft. These women flew over 60 million miles, in pursuit, cargo, and bomber planes during the brief two years of the WASP program. Their proficiency, enthusiasm, and spirit served the country, broke the norm, and paved the way for the future inclusion of female pilots.
Storyteller Rebecca Hom will share the stories of several Women Airforce Service Pilots, (WASPs) as well as the history of the program. The WASPs were an essential part of the US military’s air efforts during WWII.
The WASP training base was in Sweetwater, Texas – A dry desolate place where 1,100 women trained at Avenger Field, during WWII. They were selected from more than 25,000 applicants from all over the United States. Those chosen were highly qualified civilian pilots, and became the first females to earn their Silver Wings and fly military aircraft. These women flew over 60 million miles, in pursuit, cargo, and bomber planes during the brief two years of the WASP program. Their proficiency, enthusiasm, and spirit served the country, broke the norm, and paved the way for the future inclusion of female pilots.
Aberdeen author and Disney collector Gregory E. Zschomler will present on the life and times of the most famous of Disney characters, Mickey Mouse. Mickey celebrates his 90th birthday on Sunday, November 18. Zschomler’s talk coincides with the display of his Mickey Mouse memorabilia at the library, running throughout November and December.
This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Aberdeen Timberland Library.
Fundraising for cancer research with the American Cancer Society. Celebrating survivors/caregivers, remembering our loved ones and continuing the fight against cancer. Join us for food and fun as we Celebrate, Remember, and Fight Back!
Fundraising for cancer research with the American Cancer Society. Celebrating survivors/caregivers, remembering our loved ones and continuing the fight against cancer. Join us for food and fun as we Celebrate, Remember, and Fight Back!
The Friends of the Elma Timberland Library are hosting a Summer Book Sale during the Elma City-Wide Garage Sales. Pick up great books at even better prices!
Friday, 10:00am—5:00pm
Saturday, 10:00am—5:00pm
The Friends of the Elma Timberland Library are hosting a Summer Book Sale during the Elma City-Wide Garage Sales. Pick up great books at even better prices!
Friday, 10:00am—5:00pm
Saturday, 10:00am—5:00pm

The 2019 Annual Garden Tour – Gardens, Sea, and Art – will be held Saturday, July 20, 2019, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm featuring gardens in Ocean Shores.
It is provided by the WSU Master Gardeners of Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties.
Tickets are $12 and more information is available by calling 360-482-2934 or visiting our web site at: https://extension.wsu.edu/graysharbor/event/2019-garden-tour/
Author signing and meet and greet. Kerry is the author of Amish Vampires in Space, Fraught, A Star Curiously Singing, Frayed, Mask and more.
Originally from Seattle.

7th Street Kids presents Matilda the Musical based on the book by Roald Dahl. This fabulous show has humor and fun for adults and kids alike. 7th Street Kids has been entertaining audiences every summer for 28 years.
Tickets are available at the door an hour before the show. They can also be purchased at Harbor Drug in Hoquiam, Tinderbox Coffee Roasters in Aberdeen, Mocha Madness in Ocean Shores, Valu Drug in Montesano, and brownpapertickets.com

7th Street Kids presents Matilda the Musical based on the book by Roald Dahl. This fabulous show has humor and fun for adults and kids alike. 7th Street Kids has been entertaining audiences every summer for 28 years.
Tickets are available at the door an hour before the show. They can also be purchased at Harbor Drug in Hoquiam, Tinderbox Coffee Roasters in Aberdeen, Mocha Madness in Ocean Shores, Valu Drug in Montesano, and brownpapertickets.com

7th Street Kids presents Matilda the Musical based on the book by Roald Dahl. This fabulous show has humor and fun for adults and kids alike. 7th Street Kids has been entertaining audiences every summer for 28 years.
Tickets are available at the door an hour before the show. They can also be purchased at Harbor Drug in Hoquiam, Tinderbox Coffee Roasters in Aberdeen, Mocha Madness in Ocean Shores, Valu Drug in Montesano, and brownpapertickets.com