Tag: Arts & Culture

  • Sorticulture 2026 Returns to Downtown Everett June 5–7 — Ciscoe Morris, 140+ Vendors, and the Free Festival the City Built Its Summer Around

    Sorticulture 2026 Returns to Downtown Everett June 5–7 — Ciscoe Morris, 140+ Vendors, and the Free Festival the City Built Its Summer Around

    What is Sorticulture 2026? Sorticulture is Everett’s free Garden Arts Festival, held Friday through Sunday, June 5–7, 2026. The festival runs along Colby and Wetmore avenues in downtown Everett with 140+ garden artists and nurseries, the Sunnyside Nursery Garden Stage at Hewitt and Colby, free outdoor yoga at Wetmore Plaza, a wine garden hosted by Wick-Ed Wine & Social Club, and a Sunday afternoon lecture from Ciscoe Morris at the Historic Everett Theatre.

    Verdict: GO. Three reasons we’re calling it without hedging. (1) The lineup is unique to this market — over 140 garden artists and nurseries on one downtown grid, plus Ciscoe Morris on a 1901 stage on Sunday, plus the City of Everett, Schack Art Center, Funko, and Imagine Children’s Museum all within four blocks. (2) The room is the right size for the act — Sorticulture isn’t a stadium festival; it’s a downtown street festival that closes Colby and Wetmore and lets the venues hold the weekend. (3) Ticket value is honest: the festival is free, the yoga is free, the Ciscoe lecture is free, and the only money that has to leave your pocket is whatever you spend on plants, a glass of wine, or a food truck dumpling. The math is on Sorticulture’s side.

    If you have ever told yourself you should spend more weekends downtown, this is the one. Clear the calendar.

    The dates, the hours, the address — all of it

    Friday, June 5: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

    Saturday, June 6: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

    Sunday, June 7: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

    The festival fills the heart of downtown Everett along Colby Avenue from Everett Avenue to the north and Pacific Avenue to the south, then expands east and west along California Street toward Funko and Hewitt Avenue toward Port Gardner Bay. That’s a real footprint. You can spend three hours here without retracing your steps.

    Admission is free for all three days. No wristband, no ticket, no RSVP. Walk in.

    Ciscoe Morris at the Historic Everett Theatre — Sunday at 1 p.m.

    The single highest-leverage block on the schedule is Sunday, June 7, at 1 p.m. inside the Historic Everett Theatre at 2911 Colby Ave. Ciscoe Morris — the Pacific Northwest gardening voice most local gardeners grew up listening to on KIRO and watching on KING 5 — is giving a free lecture titled “Newest plant picks and Q&A,” and the venue’s own listing confirms it as a “free educational lecture on June 7, 1:00 pm.” This is a building that opened in 1901 as the Everett Opera House. The seating is real, the sight lines are real, and Ciscoe at 1 p.m. on a Sunday is the kind of programming you usually have to pay for at a botanical garden gala.

    If you have to pick one ticketed-feeling thing to do across the whole weekend, this is it. And it isn’t ticketed — it’s free.

    The Sunnyside Nursery Garden Stage — at Hewitt and Colby

    The festival’s main outdoor classroom sits at the intersection of Hewitt and Colby — about as central as Everett gets. The Sunnyside Nursery Garden Stage runs classes across all three days. Trevor Cameron from Sunnyside Nursery is the workhorse of the lineup, with sessions including “Hydrangea-licious!” (a deep cut on modern reblooming hydrangeas), “Japanese Maples,” “Gardening in the Shade,” and a “Pitcher Plants (Carnivorous Plants)” workshop at 11 a.m. that we’d happily watch sober.

    The stage is sponsored by Sunnyside Nursery — the venerable Marysville garden center that has been a fixture on the I-5 corridor for decades — and that sponsorship is the reason the stage exists in a recognizable form year after year. The festival itself is supported in part by Snohomish County Lodging Tax grants, which is what local lodging-tax dollars look like when they actually land in something the city’s residents can use.

    Free outdoor yoga at Wetmore Plaza

    Saturday and Sunday mornings, 11 a.m., Wetmore Plaza. Free. Hosted by Yoga Shala Everett. This is one of those rare festival add-ons that actually delivers — open-air yoga in a closed-street setting, surrounded by 140+ vendor booths, with garden art and the smell of plants on three sides. Bring a mat. If you forget the mat, bring a towel. If you forget the towel, the grass at Wetmore Plaza is forgiving.

    The wine garden, the food trucks, the kids

    The wine garden is hosted by Wick-Ed Wine & Social Club at 2707 Colby Ave, with live music inside the wine-garden zone. Snacks, beverages, and food trucks run throughout the festival footprint. You will not need to leave Sorticulture to eat.

    Youth activities are programmed by Imagine Children’s Museum, Everett Parks, and Funko — yes, that Funko. The Funko HQ flagship sits at 2802 Wetmore, less than two blocks from the festival’s spine, and Funko’s youth booths are part of why families with elementary-school kids treat Sorticulture as a default June weekend. The kids don’t run out of things to do, which is the entire point.

    Getting there, parking, and the Everett Transit shuttle

    ADA parking runs along Wetmore Avenue between Everett and California avenues. The downtown public parking garage is free on weekends — under-promoted but true. Pay lots in the immediate vicinity are inexpensive on a per-hour basis. And critically, Everett Transit runs a complimentary shuttle service to Sorticulture, which means if you live in north or south Everett you don’t need to fight the I-5 weekend traffic at all.

    Plan the visit as a downtown afternoon, not a quick stop. Park once. Walk the festival. Eat. Sit through a class. Walk back.

    How Sorticulture fits the rest of the weekend

    The Saturday night card downtown is heavy. Tony V’s Garage at 1716 Hewitt typically books shows the same weekend as Sorticulture, and the Historic Everett Theatre runs evening programming around the festival days too — recent culture-desk coverage of Schack Art Center’s Contemporary Northwest Artists exhibition opens around the same week, so a smart Saturday looks like Sorticulture during the day, gallery walk through Schack on Hoyt Avenue late afternoon, dinner downtown, and a show after sundown.

    The downtown cultural cluster — Schack at 2921 Hoyt, the Historic Everett Theatre at 2911 Colby, Funko at 2802 Wetmore, Tony V’s at 1716 Hewitt, and Imagine Children’s Museum nearby — is the reason Sorticulture works as well as it does. The festival is the pretext. The cluster is the product.

    What to actually buy at Sorticulture (the only opinionated section)

    If you have never been: skip the impulse buys on Friday and walk the entire grid first. The most interesting work — handmade pots, garden steel, ceramic ware, sculptural plant supports — sits in the middle blocks of the footprint, not the edges, and the best vendors sell out by Saturday afternoon. If you see a piece on Friday and it’s between $50 and $200, buy it then; if it’s over $200, sleep on it and come back Saturday morning before the foot traffic ramps. If you’re plant shopping, hit the Sunnyside Nursery presence and the regional nurseries first — the festival is one of the few places those nurseries bring inventory off their home lots.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When is Sorticulture 2026?

    Friday through Sunday, June 5–7, 2026, with festival hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free.

    Where exactly is Sorticulture held?

    Downtown Everett, along Colby Avenue from Everett Avenue (north) to Pacific Avenue (south), and east-west along California Street toward Funko HQ and Hewitt Avenue toward Port Gardner Bay. The Sunnyside Nursery Garden Stage is at the intersection of Hewitt and Colby.

    Is Ciscoe Morris really speaking at Sorticulture 2026?

    Yes. Ciscoe Morris is presenting “Newest plant picks and Q&A” on Sunday, June 7, 2026, at 1 p.m. inside the Historic Everett Theatre at 2911 Colby Ave. The event is free per the venue’s own listing and is part of the festival’s continuous-learning programming.

    How much does Sorticulture cost?

    Sorticulture is free. There are no admission fees, no wristbands, and no ticket purchases required for general festival access, the Sunnyside Nursery Garden Stage classes, the outdoor yoga, or the Ciscoe Morris lecture at the Historic Everett Theatre.

    Where do I park for Sorticulture?

    ADA parking is along Wetmore Avenue between Everett and California avenues. The downtown public parking garage is free on weekends. Affordable pay lots are available in the immediate vicinity. Everett Transit also runs a complimentary shuttle service to the festival.

    Is Sorticulture good for kids?

    Yes. Youth activities are programmed by Imagine Children’s Museum, Everett Parks, and Funko. Strollers work fine on the closed-street footprint, and Wetmore Plaza has open space for kids who need to burn energy between vendor stops.

    Are dogs allowed at Sorticulture?

    Sorticulture is an outdoor downtown street festival on closed public streets, so well-behaved leashed dogs are generally welcome in the festival footprint. Dogs are typically not permitted inside indoor venues like the Historic Everett Theatre or vendor tents that explicitly post otherwise. Bring water and watch the heat.

    What time does Ciscoe Morris speak?

    Sunday, June 7, 2026, at 1 p.m. inside the Historic Everett Theatre at 2911 Colby Ave. The lecture title is “Newest plant picks and Q&A” and seating is first-come.




  • Canned Heat and Big Brother and the Holding Company Land at the Historic Everett Theatre May 29 — Two Bands That Played the Original Woodstock, on One Stage in Downtown Everett

    Canned Heat and Big Brother and the Holding Company Land at the Historic Everett Theatre May 29 — Two Bands That Played the Original Woodstock, on One Stage in Downtown Everett


    Q: When and where can I see Canned Heat and Big Brother and the Holding Company in Everett?

    Friday, May 29, 2026 at the Historic Everett Theatre (2911 Colby Ave). Doors open at 6:00 PM, show at 7:00 PM. General Admission $65, Senior/Military $60, Family Pack (3+ tickets) $55 each. Tickets and the official listing are at events.theatreconcertconsulting.com.

    If you have ever wished you could have been at Max Yasgur’s farm in August 1969, the Historic Everett Theatre is doing the next best thing this spring. On Friday, May 29, 2026, two of the original Woodstock bands — Canned Heat and Big Brother and the Holding Company — are sharing one downtown Everett stage for a single night, in a venue that has been hosting live music in this town since five years before the Wright Brothers flew at Kitty Hawk.

    The official ask from the box office is delightful: “Dress up in your favorite 60’s hippie gear.” The official price tag on the marquee event is reasonable: $65 General Admission, $60 Senior/Military, $55 Family Pack when you buy three or more. And the official venue is a 1901 opera house at 2911 Colby Avenue, two blocks off Hewitt, that has been quietly building one of the most interesting tribute and heritage-act calendars on the I-5 corridor.

    This is one to clear the calendar for. Here is everything you need to know.

    The Show: Two Headliners, One Night, Doors at 6

    According to the official Historic Everett Theatre listing for the event, here are the confirmed details:

    • Date: Friday, May 29, 2026
    • Doors: 6:00 PM
    • Show: 7:00 PM (event ends approximately 10:30 PM per the venue’s posted end time)
    • Venue: The Historic Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby Ave, Everett, WA 98201
    • General Admission: $65
    • Senior / Military: $60
    • Family Pack: $55 per ticket when buying 3 or more
    • Box office / tickets: events.theatreconcertconsulting.com (the official ticketing site for the venue)

    This is a co-headlining bill. Both bands are listed equally on the venue’s marquee, both are playing full sets, and both are being marketed as a tribute to Woodstock-era rock. The “Relive Woodstock 1969” subtitle is the venue’s own framing.

    The HeraldNet entertainment desk also flagged the show in their April 22, 2026 weekly preview, which is how a lot of folks in Snohomish County first heard about it. If you missed that one in the paper, this is your second look.

    Who Is Canned Heat in 2026?

    Canned Heat formed in Los Angeles in 1966 — roughly six decades ago, depending on which day you count from. They are not a tribute band. They are the band, with original member Adolfo “Fito” de la Parra still anchoring the kit as drummer, bandleader, and unofficial historian of the project. Per the band’s official bio published on the venue’s event page, the current touring lineup is:

    • Fito de la Parra — drums, bandleader (in his 58th year with the group)
    • Dale Spalding — vocals, harmonica, guitar (18-year tenure as of 2026; coming out of New Orleans, with a deep blues résumé)
    • Rick Reed — bass (joined four years ago after stints with Paul Butterfield, John Mayall, and the Chicago Blues Reunion)
    • Jimmy Vivino — lead guitar and vocals (best known for his 28-year run as guitarist, arranger, and music director for Late Night with Conan O’Brien; before that, a 20-year career playing with Al Kooper, Charlie Musselwhite, Michael McDonald, and many others)

    The catalog they are pulling from is genuinely iconic. Per the band’s official biography, their three signature worldwide hits are “On The Road Again,” “Going Up The Country,” and “Let’s Work Together.” They played the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival. They headlined the original Woodstock in 1969 — Canned Heat’s set notes from setlist.fm and the Woodstock archives confirm they took the stage Saturday, August 16, 1969 around 7:30 PM at sunset, ripping through “Going Up the Country” and closing with “On the Road Again” as the encore.

    What makes this stop interesting beyond the catalog: in 2024, Canned Heat released “Finyl Vinyl,” their first studio album in fifteen years. The venue’s listing notes the record put the band back on charts around the world and got named to multiple Top 10 Blues Albums of the Year lists. So when they hit the stage at Everett, they are not just running through the hits. There is a reason to bring fresh ears.

    Who Is Big Brother and the Holding Company in 2026?

    Big Brother and the Holding Company is the band that, more than any other, you associate with Janis Joplin’s voice cutting through the late 1960s. They wrote and recorded “Piece of My Heart,” “Summertime” (the Gershwin standard, reimagined as a haunted blues), “Ball and Chain,” and “Bye Bye Baby” — songs that defined a moment. They were Janis’s band. They played Monterey Pop. They played Woodstock. They were the hinge between San Francisco psychedelia and stadium rock.

    The band has continued touring since reforming in 1987. Per their official bbhc.com bio and the venue’s event listing, the current lineup centers on two original members: drummer/songwriter David Getz and bassist/songwriter Peter Albin — both of whom were on the records, both of whom were on the Monterey and Woodstock stages. They are joined on this run by Darby Gould on lead vocals (formerly of Jefferson Starship; she handles the Janis catalog, including “Piece of My Heart,” “Summertime,” “Down On Me,” “Ball and Chain,” “Me and Bobby McGee,” and “Mercedes Benz”) and Tom Finch on guitar.

    The venue’s listing for May 29 calls them “the original architects” of the songs and notes that the band continues to introduce new material alongside the catalog. That is the right framing. This is not a tribute act. This is the band — with the original rhythm section — performing songs they wrote.

    About the Venue: A 1901 Opera House Hosting Woodstock-Era Legends

    The Historic Everett Theatre opened on November 4, 1901 as the Everett Opera House. Per the venue’s history page and Cinema Treasures, it was originally designed to seat 1,200 — about a sixth of Everett’s entire population at the time. The building faces 70 feet along Colby Avenue near the intersection with Hewitt and fills a trapezoidal lot 119 feet deep. In its first decades it hosted Lillian Russell, Al Jolson, Eddie Foy and the Seven Little Foys, and George M. Cohan. A 1923 fire gutted the interior. The theatre was rebuilt and reopened in 1924 as the New Everett Theatre.

    Today the venue’s working capacity is approximately 800. It is one of the longest-continuously-operating performing arts venues in Washington State, and its 125-year heritage is exactly the kind of room a Canned Heat set was made for: hardwood floors, a real stage, a real audience, no festival mud.

    Address: 2911 Colby Ave, Everett, WA 98201. Two blocks off Hewitt Avenue. Walking distance to most of downtown.

    Should You Go? Yes. Here Is the Honest Take.

    This is a curated recommendation, not a press release. There are three reasons this show is worth clearing your Friday for:

    1. The age math is real. Fito de la Parra is in his 58th year with Canned Heat. David Getz and Peter Albin have been playing these songs since they wrote them. Co-headlining tours of bands of this vintage do not come through Everett every year. Most folks who want to see a Woodstock-era band live at this point are buying a Las Vegas residency ticket and a flight. This is a $65 ticket eight blocks from the Funko HQ.

    2. The venue is the right size. The Historic Everett Theatre’s ~800-seat configuration means you will actually hear the band, see the band, and feel the room. Canned Heat at a stadium amphitheater is a different experience than Canned Heat in an 1,200-original-seat opera house. Pick the room.

    3. The pricing is not a gimmick. General Admission at $65 with a Senior/Military rate of $60 and a Family Pack rate of $55 (when buying 3+) is fair-market for a co-headlining heritage-act bill. Ticketmaster resale on this kind of pairing tends to land north of $100. Buy direct from the venue and you are getting the real number.

    The room is going to lean older — many of the people in attendance are going to have first-hand memories of these songs on the radio in 1969. Bring earplugs anyway. Canned Heat’s current live mix is loud the way it is supposed to be loud.

    The “Dress Up in Your 60’s Hippie Gear” Thing

    The venue’s official event listing — including their meta description — leads with the line “DRESS UP IN YOUR FAVORITE 60’S HIPPIE GEAR.” This is not optional flair on the marketing; it is the actual ask. Everett does not get a lot of theme nights at this scale. If you have a fringed vest in the closet, this is its night.

    If you don’t, downtown Everett’s vintage shops on Hewitt have you covered. Bell-bottoms, a tie-dye, a headband, you are good to go.

    How to Buy Tickets

    Tickets are sold through the official venue ticketing site at events.theatreconcertconsulting.com under the Canned Heat with Big Brother and the Holding Company event listing. The three available ticket types as of publication:

    • General Admission — $65
    • General Admission Senior/Military — $60
    • Family Pack (3+ tickets) — $55 per ticket

    A small ticketing fee is added at checkout, per the venue’s standard. Do not buy resale; buy direct from the venue’s Tickible-powered store.

    The Bigger Picture: The Historic Everett Theatre’s Spring 2026 Calendar

    The Canned Heat / Big Brother bill is the headliner of a May calendar that has been quietly stacking up. The same week, the Historic Everett Theatre is also presenting:

    • May 1 — Red Karma (Taylor Swift Tribute)
    • May 8 — Richard Marx (After Hours Tour, Friday, the show we already covered separately)
    • May 9 — Corduroy: The Pearl Jam Experience
    • May 16 — Dana Gould (stand-up comedy, presented by Everett Comedy Night)

    For a 1901 opera house running 800-seat shows, that is a serious month. Canned Heat closes it out the night before Memorial Day weekend.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is this a tribute band or the original Canned Heat?

    This is the original Canned Heat. Drummer and bandleader Adolfo “Fito” de la Parra has been with the band since 1968 and is in his 58th year as of 2026. The current lineup also includes Dale Spalding (vocals/harmonica/guitar), Rick Reed (bass), and Jimmy Vivino (lead guitar — formerly the music director for Late Night with Conan O’Brien). Per the band’s official bio published on the venue’s listing, this is the touring lineup.

    Is this a tribute band or the original Big Brother and the Holding Company?

    This is the original Big Brother and the Holding Company, with original members David Getz on drums and Peter Albin on bass — both of whom played on the Janis Joplin–era records, the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, and the 1969 Woodstock Festival. Lead vocals on this tour are handled by Darby Gould (formerly of Jefferson Starship), who covers the Janis catalog. Tom Finch is on guitar.

    What time does the show start?

    Doors open at 6:00 PM. Show starts at 7:00 PM. The venue’s posted end time is approximately 10:30 PM.

    Where is the Historic Everett Theatre?

    2911 Colby Avenue, Everett, WA 98201. Two blocks west of Hewitt Avenue, in the heart of downtown Everett.

    How much are tickets?

    General Admission is $65. Senior/Military is $60. Family Pack (when buying 3 or more tickets in one order) is $55 per ticket. A small ticketing fee is added at checkout.

    Is there assigned seating?

    The venue’s listing offers General Admission tickets for this event, meaning seating is first-come, first-served within the 800-capacity room. Arriving close to doors at 6:00 PM is recommended for sight lines.

    What should I wear?

    The venue’s official event listing requests that attendees “dress up in your favorite 60’s hippie gear.” This is encouraged but not enforced. Tie-dye, fringe, bell-bottoms, headbands, and 1960s-era denim all welcome.

    Will Canned Heat play “On The Road Again” and “Going Up The Country”?

    The band’s current set list pulls from their full catalog of three worldwide hits — “On The Road Again,” “Going Up The Country,” and “Let’s Work Together” — alongside material from their 2024 album Finyl Vinyl, which was their first studio release in fifteen years and earned multiple Top 10 Blues Albums of the Year placements. Specific setlist for the Everett date has not been published in advance.

    Will Big Brother and the Holding Company play the Janis Joplin–era songs?

    Yes. Per the band’s official bio, lead vocalist Darby Gould performs the Janis catalog including “Piece of My Heart,” “Summertime,” “Ball and Chain,” “Down On Me,” “Me and Bobby McGee,” and “Mercedes Benz.” The venue’s listing specifically names “Piece of My Heart,” “Summertime,” “Ball and Chain,” and “Bye Bye Baby” as part of the show.

    Is the Historic Everett Theatre accessible?

    The Historic Everett Theatre is a 1901-built opera house with 1924 reconstruction. For specific accessibility questions including ADA seating and accessible entrances, contact the venue directly via the box office number listed on theeveretttheatre.org.

    Are food and drinks available at the venue?

    Concession options at the Historic Everett Theatre vary by event. Check the venue’s FAQ at theatreconcertconsulting.com/frequently-asked-questions for current concession details.

    Bottom Line

    Two of the bands that defined the late-1960s American rock canon — both with original members on stage, both with current studio material to back the catalog — are co-headlining one night at a 1901 opera house in downtown Everett for $65 a ticket on Friday, May 29. This is the kind of show Everett used to drive to Seattle to see. On May 29, Seattle is going to be driving here.

    Get the tickets. Wear the fringe. Show up at 6.

  • Schack Art Center Opens Its Biggest Art Week of the Spring on May 28 — Contemporary Northwest Artists Exhibition and Summer Auction Drop the Same Day

    Schack Art Center Opens Its Biggest Art Week of the Spring on May 28 — Contemporary Northwest Artists Exhibition and Summer Auction Drop the Same Day

    May 28 is the day Schack Art Center stops being a casual drop-in and becomes the best weeknight art plan in Snohomish County. Two of the biggest things the gallery does all year — the Contemporary Northwest Artists Exhibition and the Summer Auction — open on the exact same Thursday. One runs through August 22. The other runs for eleven days. If you’ve been meaning to spend more time inside 2921 Hoyt Avenue, this is the week it earns your calendar.

    Here’s what’s going on, why it matters, and why downtown Everett’s best free art experience just got a lot more interesting.

    Quick answer: Schack Art Center’s Contemporary Northwest Artists Exhibition opens Thursday, May 28, 2026, and runs through August 22. The Summer Auction — a benefit supporting Schack’s free exhibitions and arts education programs — also opens May 28 and runs through June 7. Both are at Schack Art Center, 2921 Hoyt Avenue in downtown Everett. Gallery hours are Tuesday–Saturday 10 AM–5 PM and Sunday 12 PM–5 PM, and admission to the gallery is always free.

    Contemporary Northwest Artists: A Regional Snapshot That Actually Feels Current

    Schack is calling the headline show Contemporary Northwest Artists, and the framing is direct. In the gallery’s own words, the exhibition “showcases contemporary work by Northwest artists across all mediums” and “brings together artists working today to offer a wide-ranging view of current creative practices in the region, highlighting the voices, ideas, and approaches shaping the Northwest art scene now.”

    Translate that out of gallery speak: this isn’t a retrospective. It isn’t an invitational of the same five names you already know. It’s a living, present-tense look at what people in the Pacific Northwest are actually making right now — painting, sculpture, glass, fiber, ceramics, mixed media, the whole range of mediums Schack normally cycles through.

    That matters for two reasons.

    First, the Northwest has a genuinely distinct art identity, and the case can be made that Everett sits closer to the center of it than most people assume. The Schack building has quietly grown into, in its own words, “the premier visual arts destination between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C.” When a venue at that level programs a broad Northwest-artists show, it becomes a reference point for what the region thinks of itself this year.

    Second, this show sets the tone for the whole summer at Schack. It opens May 28 and doesn’t close until August 22. That’s almost three months of anchor programming, which means every Art Walk, every weekend drop-in, every out-of-town guest you drag to Hoyt Avenue between Memorial Day and the start of school lands inside the same curated experience.

    If you can only make one trip to Schack this summer, make the trip after the show is fully installed — usually a week or two after opening — and plan to spend at least 45 minutes. This kind of multi-medium group show rewards slow viewing.

    The Summer Auction: 11 Days, Real Art, and Why the Benefit Side Actually Matters

    While the Contemporary Northwest Artists Exhibition is the long-running headline, the Summer Auction is the action. It runs Thursday, May 28 through Sunday, June 7 — so call it one long opening weekend, plus another weekend, plus the weekdays in between.

    Schack’s own description of the Summer Auction: guests are invited to “browse and bid on original artwork, unique experiences, and curated packages while supporting Schack’s free exhibitions and arts education programs.”

    A few things are worth pulling out of that sentence.

    “Original artwork” is doing heavy lifting. Schack sits inside a North American Reciprocal Museum network and has steadily built a reputation for actual working artists donating actual working pieces — not poster prints, not reproductions. If you’ve ever wanted to buy a piece of Northwest art from the kind of artist who normally only shows in gallery settings, auction week is the window where the price point drops into range for regular Everett households.

    “Unique experiences and curated packages” is the part that usually sneaks up on first-time bidders. Studio visits, classes at Schack, dinner packages with local partners, behind-the-scenes gallery experiences — the non-artwork lots tend to draw competitive bidding specifically because they can’t be bought anywhere else the rest of the year.

    “Supporting Schack’s free exhibitions and arts education programs” is the part that should make you care even if you’re not bidding. Schack runs a heavy education program — classes for kids, teens, and adults, plus partnerships with Everett schools — and the reason its gallery is free every day of the week is because events like the Summer Auction close the funding gap. Bidding isn’t just shopping; it’s the mechanism that keeps Everett’s biggest gallery an open-door space.

    Why This Week Is a Bigger Deal Than It Sounds

    A lot of towns the size of Everett don’t have a gallery like Schack. A lot of galleries Schack’s size don’t run free public exhibitions seven days a week. A lot of free galleries don’t simultaneously run a regional headline show and a funding-critical auction on the exact same opening week.

    The stacked calendar is the story. One building, two major events, both starting May 28, both running inside a walkable downtown district that is slowly but clearly becoming one of the best evening art experiences in Snohomish County.

    If you’ve been following the slow cultural momentum downtown — Artists’ Garage Sale waitlists hitting capacity earlier each year, APEX Everett filling Kings Hall on weekends, the Historic Everett Theatre booking touring acts, Tony V’s Garage drawing legitimate regional touring bands — this Schack week fits the same pattern. Everett’s cultural weight is moving from “cute for a small city” into “actual regional destination,” and May 28 is one of the weeks that makes the case.

    How to Plan Your Visit

    Address: Schack Art Center, 2921 Hoyt Avenue, Everett, WA 98201

    Gallery hours (free admission): Tuesday–Saturday 10 AM–5 PM, Sunday 12 PM–5 PM (closed Mondays)

    Phone: (425) 309-7723

    Contact: artsinfo@schack.org

    Parking: Everpark Garage a block away (hourly), plus street parking on Hoyt and Wetmore

    Best day to go: A Thursday or Friday evening when downtown Everett is already awake — you can pair the visit with dinner on Hewitt Avenue or a show at the Historic Everett Theatre

    Best way to approach the Summer Auction: Start at the gallery in person to see pieces in context before bidding — the lighting and scale on a wall tell you more about a piece than any catalog image

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When does the Contemporary Northwest Artists Exhibition open at Schack Art Center? Thursday, May 28, 2026. It runs through August 22, 2026 at Schack Art Center, 2921 Hoyt Avenue in downtown Everett.

    When is Schack Art Center’s 2026 Summer Auction? The Summer Auction runs from Thursday, May 28, 2026 through Sunday, June 7, 2026. Bidding supports Schack’s free exhibitions and arts education programs.

    How much does it cost to visit Schack Art Center? Gallery admission is free. The Summer Auction is an event you can browse without bidding; costs only apply if you place winning bids.

    What are Schack Art Center’s hours? Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM, and Sunday from 12 PM to 5 PM. Schack is closed on Mondays.

    Where is Schack Art Center? 2921 Hoyt Avenue, Everett, WA 98201, in downtown Everett between Pacific Avenue and Hewitt Avenue.

    Can I buy original artwork at Schack’s Summer Auction if I’m not an art collector? Yes. The Summer Auction is designed for a broad community of bidders, not just established collectors. Lots include original artwork as well as unique experiences and curated packages at a range of price points.

    What’s coming up after the Contemporary Northwest Artists show? Schack’s instructor exhibition, Years in the Making, opens June 18, 2026 and also runs through August 22. It features work by the artists who teach at Schack Art Center.

    Is Schack Art Center good for families? Yes. Schack is a family-friendly gallery and runs extensive arts education programming including classes for kids and teens. The Summer Auction itself is not specifically a family event, but visiting the gallery during auction week is a normal daytime drop-in.

  • Richard Marx’s After Hours Tour Lands at the Historic Everett Theatre May 8 — And This Friday Night Is Already Running Out of Seats

    Richard Marx’s After Hours Tour Lands at the Historic Everett Theatre May 8 — And This Friday Night Is Already Running Out of Seats

    Richard Marx — yes, that Richard Marx, the guy who held down the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in the late ’80s like it was his personal lease — is bringing his After Hours Tour into the Historic Everett Theatre on Friday, May 8, 2026 at 7:30 PM. One night. One of the most historically loaded rooms on Colby Avenue. And according to Bandsintown’s listing for the show, ticket availability is already down to a sliver.

    If you came up on “Right Here Waiting” on the car radio, if “Hold On to the Nights” was your slow-dance song, if “Endless Summer Nights” is permanently wired into your summer memory — this is the kind of show that only makes sense to skip if you truly hate joy. It is also, genuinely, one of the more unexpected bookings Everett has landed this spring.

    Here is everything worth knowing before you click buy.

    The Show at a Glance

    • **Who:** Richard Marx — five-time No. 1 Billboard hitmaker, After Hours Tour
    • **What:** Richard Marx live, supporting his January 2026 jazz-infused album After Hours
    • **When:** Friday, May 8, 2026 — 7:30 PM
    • **Where:** Historic Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby Avenue, Everett, WA 98201
    • **Tickets:** Official box office and links through everetttheater.org and theeveretttheatre.org; also listed on Bandsintown
    • **Availability:** Bandsintown’s listing for the Everett date showed very limited inventory remaining at time of publish

    If you have ever talked yourself out of a show because “we’ll grab tickets closer to the date” — do not do that here.

    Why This Booking Is a Big Deal for Everett

    Let’s zoom out for a second. The Historic Everett Theatre is not a 5,000-seat amphitheater. It is an intimate, roughly 800-seat room with 1901 opera-house bones — a building that’s been hosting touring artists since vaudeville was the dominant American art form. An artist with Richard Marx’s catalog — the kind of catalog that would sell out rooms five times the Everett Theatre’s size in bigger markets — playing a venue this small and this historic is the entire reason we keep telling people to watch this theater’s calendar.

    Between this booking, Canned Heat with Big Brother and the Holding Company on April 29, Trio Los Panchos on May 7, and Corduroy’s Pearl Jam tribute on May 9, the Historic Everett Theatre is quietly putting up one of the most stacked weekends in its modern concert history. Richard Marx on a Friday and a tribute to Pearl Jam the very next night in the same 1901 room — that’s not an accident of scheduling. That’s a room that’s been carefully programmed by people who know what they’re doing.

    About the After Hours Tour

    After Hours is Richard Marx’s jazz-infused studio album, released January 16, 2026. According to Marx’s interview with Billboard and his official tour site, the record was cut entirely live with a 24-piece ensemble — full takes, no studio patchwork, the way jazz records used to be made. The album’s lead-up singles included:

    • **”Big Band Boogie”** featuring saxophonist Kenny G
    • **”All I Ever Needed”** — a jazz-infused ballad featuring trumpeter Chris Botti
    • **”Magic Hour”** — co-written with Marx’s wife, Daisy Fuentes

    The tour officially kicked off April 16, 2026 and moves through Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada through the year, including headline stops at Red Rocks and the London Palladium. Marx is also joining Rod Stewart for select dates on Stewart’s tour, and the two released a duet version of “Young at Heart” in 2026.

    The Everett Theatre show sits in a tight West Coast run. According to the official tour site, it is sandwiched between the Elsinore Theatre in Salem, Oregon (May 9) and the Holly Theatre in Medford, Oregon (May 10) — meaning Everett is the northernmost stop on that West Coast swing. This is the room and the date for the Puget Sound region. There is no closer option.

    What to Expect from the Setlist

    Tours built around a new jazz record still tend to honor the hits. On Richard Marx’s recent runs, the setlist has braided the new After Hours material with the songs everyone in the theater actually came to hear: “Right Here Waiting,” “Hold On to the Nights,” “Endless Summer Nights,” “Hazard,” “Satisfied,” “Should’ve Known Better,” “Now and Forever.”

    Here’s the career footnote worth appreciating while you’re there: according to his Wikipedia entry and Billboard’s own historical chart data, Richard Marx is the only male artist in history whose first seven singles all reached the top five of the Billboard Hot 100. That is an absurd statistic. That is a “you were extremely good at this” statistic. Sitting in a theater built in 1901 watching the guy who did that perform them live with a band — that’s the kind of thing you tell people about at work on Monday.

    Historic Everett Theatre: The Quick History

    If this is your first time inside the Historic Everett Theatre, here’s the context that makes the night hit harder:

    • **1901** — Opens as the Everett Opera House, hosting opera, vaudeville, and legitimate theater. Early-20th-century performers to grace the stage included Lillian Russell, Al Jolson, Eddie Foy and the Seven Little Foys, and George M. Cohan.
    • **1923** — A fire tears through the building, destroying the interior and collapsing part of the front wall.
    • **1924** — Rebuilt and reopened as the 1,200-seat New Everett Theater.
    • **2000–2004** — Restored to its current form. The room now operates as a classic movie screen, concert venue, and stage-production house, seating roughly 800.

    In other words: the same room that hosted Al Jolson in the 1910s is hosting Richard Marx on May 8. That lineage is not a marketing line. It is the physical building. That matters.

    Getting There + Logistics

    • **Address:** 2911 Colby Avenue, Everett, WA 98201
    • **Start time:** Doors typically open an hour before showtime; show at 7:30 PM
    • **Parking:** Colby Avenue street parking plus nearby downtown Everett garages — the Everpark Garage is one of the closest options for downtown events
    • **Box office / ticket links:** everetttheater.org and theeveretttheatre.org both route to the official ticketing. Show is also listed on Bandsintown for tracking
    • **Food and drink before the show:** Downtown Everett’s Hewitt Avenue is a four-minute walk. Tony V’s Garage, Lucky Dime, the restaurants along the Colby/Hewitt corridor — any of them will put you inside the theater well before the 7:30 curtain

    The Honest Verdict

    If you are the kind of person who already has tickets, you didn’t need this article. You’ve known for weeks.

    If you are the kind of person who wasn’t paying attention — this is your nudge. Five No. 1 Billboard hits. A brand-new jazz record cut live with a 24-piece ensemble. A 125-year-old theater that Al Jolson once played. Tickets already showing as limited availability. A Friday night in Everett.

    It is not complicated. Go.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Q: What time does Richard Marx go on at the Historic Everett Theatre?

    A: The show is scheduled for Friday, May 8, 2026 at 7:30 PM. Doors typically open around an hour before showtime.

    Q: Where is the Historic Everett Theatre located?

    A: The Historic Everett Theatre is at 2911 Colby Avenue, Everett, WA 98201, in downtown Everett.

    Q: Are tickets still available for Richard Marx in Everett?

    A: At time of publication, Bandsintown’s listing for the Everett date showed very limited inventory remaining. Check everetttheater.org, theeveretttheatre.org, or Bandsintown for the current availability — this show may already be sold out by the time you read this.

    Q: What tour is this show part of?

    A: This is Richard Marx’s After Hours Tour, supporting his January 2026 jazz-infused album of the same name. The Everett date sits in a West Coast run between Salem, Oregon (May 9) and Medford, Oregon (May 10).

    Q: Will Richard Marx play his old hits or just new jazz material?

    A: Based on setlists from the tour, Marx is braiding material from the new After Hours album with his catalog of Billboard hits including “Right Here Waiting,” “Hold On to the Nights,” “Endless Summer Nights,” and “Hazard.”

    Q: How big is the Historic Everett Theatre?

    A: The current seating capacity is roughly 800 seats. That makes this show an unusually intimate setting for an artist of Richard Marx’s commercial stature.

    Q: Is the venue all-ages?

    A: The Historic Everett Theatre hosts all-ages concerts as a general rule. Verify at the box office if you’re bringing younger family members.

    Q: What’s the best place to eat before the show?

    A: Downtown Everett’s Hewitt Avenue corridor is a short walk. Tony V’s Garage, Lucky Dime, and the Colby/Hewitt dining cluster all work if you want to grab dinner and walk to the theater.

  • Port Townsend & East Jefferson Regional Beat — Farmers Market, Fiber Art, and Victorian Heritage

    Port Townsend & East Jefferson Regional Beat — Farmers Market, Fiber Art, and Victorian Heritage

    Spring has arrived in Port Townsend, and there’s plenty to celebrate across the East Jefferson region this month. Three distinct happenings make now an especially good time to visit.

    Port Townsend Farmers Market Is Back

    The Port Townsend Farmers Market opened for the 2026 season on April 4 at Tyler & Lawrence Streets (Uptown). Running every Saturday from 9 AM to 2 PM, the market hosts up to 90 vendors through the season. Whether you’re looking for fresh produce, local artisan goods, or just want to soak in the community atmosphere, this is one of the Peninsula’s great weekly gatherings.

    “UFO: Second Sightings” Fiber Art Exhibit at Fiber Habit

    Peninsula Fiber Artists just installed a new walk-by exhibit in the window at Fiber Habit, 675 Tyler Street. The show — titled “UFO: Second Sightings” — launched April 7 and runs through May 31. Artists exchanged unfinished textile objects anonymously and transformed them into entirely new works. The exhibit is viewable 24/7 from the sidewalk, free to see any time day or night.

    30th Annual Victorian Heritage Festival — April 24–26

    The Port Townsend Heritage Association’s 30th Annual Victorian Heritage Festival is coming up April 24–26, 2026. Expect presentations at Fort Worden State Park, Victorian fashion talks, guided walking tours of Port Townsend’s landmark architecture, and a full weekend of immersive historical programming. This is one of the signature cultural events on the Olympic Peninsula each spring.

    Plan Your Port Townsend Visit

    • Farmers Market: Saturdays 9 AM–2 PM, Tyler & Lawrence Streets, Uptown Port Townsend. Up to 90 vendors. Through the season.
    • “UFO: Second Sightings”: Fiber Habit Window, 675 Tyler St. Viewable 24/7 through May 31. Free, no admission.
    • Victorian Heritage Festival: April 24–26. Fort Worden State Park + downtown Port Townsend. Events, tours, talks. portage.org for details.
  • New to Mason County? The Forest Festival Is the Event That Explains Everything About Shelton

    New to Mason County? The Forest Festival Is the Event That Explains Everything About Shelton

    For New Mason County Residents: The Mason County Forest Festival — 81 years running — is Shelton’s defining community event. If you’ve recently moved to the area, attending June 5–7 is the fastest orientation to who Mason County is and where it came from.

    New to Mason County? The Forest Festival Is Required Attendance

    If you’ve recently moved to Mason County — whether to Shelton, Belfair, Allyn, Union, or anywhere along Hood Canal — you’ll hear about the Forest Festival before long. It’s the one event that concentrates the full character of this community into a single weekend.

    The 81st annual Mason County Forest Festival runs June 5–7, 2026 in downtown Shelton. Here’s what it is, why it exists, and what you need to know to get the most out of it as someone still learning the area.

    Why This Festival Exists

    Mason County’s identity is inseparable from timber. Michael T. Simmons built the first American sawmill on Mill Creek in 1853. By the late 1800s, the Simpson Logging Company had become the economic backbone of the region, shaping not just Shelton’s economy but its physical layout — the railroad routes, the mill sites, the neighborhoods.

    The first Mason County Forest Festival was held in 1945, just after World War II, as a way to celebrate and promote the logging industry that employed much of the county. Eighty-one years later, that heritage is still honored — not as nostalgia, but as living identity. When you watch the Paul Bunyan Grand Parade move down Railroad Avenue, you’re watching a community acknowledge where it came from.

    What to Expect

    The weekend is fuller than it looks from a distance. Key events for newcomers to prioritize:

    • Paul Bunyan Grand Parade (Railroad Avenue): The centerpiece of the festival. Community organizations, bands, equestrian groups, businesses, and floats. This is where you’ll see the full cross-section of Mason County’s civic life in one place.
    • STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Western Qualifier (Loop Field): Competitive logging — axe throwing, log rolling, chainsaw events. This is a national qualifier, not a demonstration. Chainsaw carving runs alongside. Free to watch.
    • Manke Fireworks Show: Launches from Oakland Bay Junior High, visible from Wallace-Kneeland Boulevard. One of Mason County’s most-attended annual events.
    • Shelton Car Show-Off (Sunday, F Street): A quieter, community-focused way to see a different side of Shelton.

    Start early: The Goldsborough Creek Run on May 30 is the unofficial Forest Festival opener — a great way to meet neighbors before the main weekend. It starts at Shelton Valley Christian School and finishes downtown on Railroad Avenue.

    How to Think About It

    For longtime residents, the Forest Festival is an annual reunion. For newcomers, it’s an orientation. The organizations that staff the booths, the businesses that sponsor the floats, the families that show up every year — this is the visible layer of Mason County’s social infrastructure. Showing up is how you start to become part of it.

    Most events are free. Bring layers — June evenings in Shelton can be cool. Full details at masoncountyforestfestival.com.

    For more on Shelton and Mason County’s history, see our coverage of Shelton’s Deep Roots — Squaxin Island Tribe and the Mosquito Fleet and the Forest Festival 2026 announcement.

    Related: Mason County Forest Festival 2026: Complete Guide

    Frequently Asked Questions: Mason County Forest Festival for New Residents

    Why is the Mason County Forest Festival significant?

    It’s Shelton’s oldest and largest annual community event — now in its 81st year. The festival celebrates Mason County’s timber heritage and serves as the primary community gathering of the year, drawing residents from across the county and beyond.

    When and where is the 2026 Forest Festival?

    June 5–7, 2026 in downtown Shelton, WA. The parade is on Railroad Avenue, the logging show is at Loop Field, and the fireworks are best viewed from Wallace-Kneeland Boulevard.

    Are most Forest Festival events free?

    Yes — the parade, logging show, concert, and fireworks are free to attend. Carnival rides require ticket purchase. The Goldsborough Creek Run on May 30 has a registration fee.

    How do I get to Shelton from other Mason County communities?

    Shelton is the Mason County seat, accessible from Belfair and Union via SR-3, from the Hood Canal communities via US-101, and from Allyn via SR-3. The festival takes place in the downtown core near Railroad Avenue and Loop Field.

    Is there parking at the Forest Festival?

    Downtown Shelton fills up on parade and fireworks days. Plan to arrive early, and consider Wallace-Kneeland Boulevard as both a parking and fireworks-viewing location. Check masoncountyforestfestival.com for event-specific parking information closer to the date.


  • Mason County Forest Festival 2026 Family Guide: What’s Free, What to Bring, and When to Go with Kids

    Mason County Forest Festival 2026 Family Guide: What’s Free, What to Bring, and When to Go with Kids

    For Mason County Families: The 81st Mason County Forest Festival (June 5–7 in Shelton) has family-specific programming throughout the weekend — Family and Pet Parade, Junior Jog at the May 30 Goldsborough Creek Run, carnival at Grove and First, STIHL TIMBERSPORTS logging show, and the Manke Fireworks Show from Oakland Bay Junior High.

    Mason County Forest Festival 2026: Family Planning Guide

    The Mason County Forest Festival is one of the most family-friendly weekends of the year in Shelton. The 81st annual celebration runs June 5–7, 2026 and includes dedicated programming for kids throughout. Here’s how to plan your days.

    Start Early: Goldsborough Creek Run — May 30

    The Forest Festival’s unofficial kickoff is the Goldsborough Creek Run and Walk on Saturday, May 30. Kids can participate in the Junior Jog and quarter-mile option starting at 7th Street and Railroad Avenue in Shelton. The full run starts at Shelton Valley Christian School on Shelton Valley Road and finishes downtown. Proceeds go to the Mason General Hospital Centennial Guild and the Kristi Armstrong Memorial Scholarship — a good conversation starter for older kids about what community fundraising looks like.

    Parade Day: The Family and Pet Parade Comes First

    On main parade day, the Family and Pet Parade runs before the Paul Bunyan Grand Parade — giving younger kids a chance to march or cheer in their own parade before the full event begins. The Grand Parade follows along Railroad Avenue with floats, bands, equestrian groups, and community organizations. Arrive early for good sidewalk spots on Railroad Avenue.

    Loop Field: The Logging Show

    The STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Western Qualifier at Loop Field is genuinely engaging for older kids. Athletes compete in axe throwing, log rolling, and chainsaw events at a national qualifier level. Chainsaw carving demonstrations show artists creating sculptures from raw logs during the festival. Most Loop Field events are free to attend and provide a great education in Mason County’s working forest heritage.

    Carnival

    The carnival at Grove and First runs throughout the festival weekend with rides, games, and food. Carnival rides require ticket purchase. This is typically where families with younger children (under 8) spend the most time outside of parade day.

    Fireworks Evening: Planning for Kids

    The Manke Fireworks Show launches from Oakland Bay Junior High after the Rockin’ the Forest concert. Best viewing is from Wallace-Kneeland Boulevard parking lots. Arrive early — this is the most-attended event of the weekend. For families with very young children, the fireworks can be loud; consider bringing ear protection or sitting farther back along Wallace-Kneeland.

    Sunday: Car Show-Off for Older Kids

    The Shelton Car Show-Off on Sunday (10 AM–3 PM on F Street) is a lower-key way to close out the weekend — good for families with older kids who enjoy classic and custom vehicles. Judging at 11 AM, awards at 2 PM. Proceeds benefit the Shelton High School NJROTC program.

    Full schedule and event details at masoncountyforestfestival.com. For the complete festival overview, see Mason County Forest Festival 2026: Complete Guide. For other family-friendly Mason County events, see Harstine Island Theatre Club’s 1776 auditions.

    Related: Mason County Forest Festival 2026: Complete Guide

    Frequently Asked Questions: Forest Festival 2026 for Families

    Is the Mason County Forest Festival good for young children?

    Yes. The festival includes a Family and Pet Parade, Junior Jog at the May 30 Creek Run, carnival rides and games, the logging show at Loop Field, and the Manke Fireworks Show. Most daytime events are relaxed and appropriate for all ages.

    Which Forest Festival events are free for families?

    The parade (including Family and Pet Parade), logging show, chainsaw carving, concert, and fireworks are all free. Carnival rides require ticket purchase. The Goldsborough Creek Run has a registration fee.

    What should families bring to the Forest Festival?

    Comfortable walking shoes, layers (June evenings in Shelton can be cool), cash or cards for carnival and food vendors, and sunscreen for daytime events. If attending the fireworks with young children, bring ear protection — the show launches from Oakland Bay Junior High and is loud nearby.

    Is there a kids parade at the Forest Festival?

    Yes — the Family and Pet Parade runs before the main Paul Bunyan Grand Parade, giving younger kids a chance to participate before the full community parade begins on Railroad Avenue.

    When does the festival officially start on Friday, June 5?

    The festival opens Friday, June 5 at 4 PM and runs through Sunday, June 7 at 5 PM. The Goldsborough Creek Run precedes the festival weekend on Saturday, May 30.


  • Mason County Forest Festival 2026: Complete Guide to Shelton’s 81st Annual Celebration

    Mason County Forest Festival 2026: Complete Guide to Shelton’s 81st Annual Celebration

    Mason County Forest Festival 2026: The 81st annual celebration runs June 5–7 in Shelton, WA. Highlights include the Paul Bunyan Grand Parade, STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Western Qualifier at Loop Field, Rockin’ the Forest concert, Manke Fireworks Show (visible from Wallace-Kneeland Blvd), Sunday Car Show-Off on F Street, and the Goldsborough Creek Run on May 30.

    Mason County Forest Festival Returns June 5–7 for Its 81st Year

    Every summer, Shelton becomes the center of Mason County’s public life for one unforgettable weekend. The Mason County Forest Festival — one of the longest-running community celebrations in the South Puget Sound — returns for its 81st year from June 5–7, 2026.

    The festival is rooted in the county’s timber heritage and has drawn residents and visitors from across the region since 1945. Here’s everything you need to know for 2026.

    The Paul Bunyan Grand Parade

    The anchor of the Forest Festival is the Paul Bunyan Grand Parade, a Shelton tradition that winds through downtown along Railroad Avenue. The parade features floats, marching bands, community organizations, equestrian groups, and local businesses. A Family and Pet Parade runs before the main event, giving younger participants their own moment on the route.

    STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Western Qualifier at Loop Field

    The logging show at Loop Field is more than nostalgia. The 2026 festival includes the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Western Qualifier — a competitive logging skills event serving as a regional qualifier for the national series. Athletes compete in log rolling, axe throwing, and chainsaw events. A chainsaw carving exhibition runs alongside, with artists creating sculptures from raw timber during the festival. Most Loop Field events are free to attend.

    Rockin’ the Forest and the Manke Fireworks Show

    The Rockin’ the Forest concert delivers live music in the hours before the festival’s signature evening event: the Manke Fireworks Show, launching from Oakland Bay Junior High. Best viewing is from parking lots along Wallace-Kneeland Boulevard. Plan to arrive early — this is the highest-attendance event of the festival weekend.

    Sunday: Shelton Car Show-Off

    The festival closes Sunday with the Shelton Car Show-Off on F Street. Registration runs 8–11 AM, judging begins at 11 AM, and awards are presented at 2 PM (show runs 10 AM–3 PM). The event benefits the Shelton High School NJROTC program.

    Carnival

    The carnival runs throughout the festival weekend at Grove and First in Shelton with rides, games, and food vendors. Rides require ticket purchase.

    Kick Off Early: Goldsborough Creek Run — May 30

    The Forest Festival’s official opener is the Goldsborough Creek Run and Walk on Saturday, May 30. The run starts at Shelton Valley Christian School on Shelton Valley Road and finishes on West Railroad Avenue in downtown Shelton. A Junior Jog and quarter-mile option are available for younger participants. Proceeds benefit the Mason General Hospital Centennial Guild and the Kristi Armstrong Memorial Scholarship.

    81 Years of Timber Heritage

    The first Mason County Forest Festival was held in 1945 to celebrate and promote the county’s logging industry — which had shaped this region since Michael T. Simmons built the first American sawmill on Mill Creek in 1853. The Simpson Logging Company’s growth through the late 1800s and 1900s defined Shelton’s economy and community structure for generations. The festival has honored that heritage every year since.

    For complete event details and updates, visit masoncountyforestfestival.com. For more on Mason County’s history, see our coverage of Shelton’s Deep Roots and the Mason County Historical Society.

    Related: Mason County April 28 Special Election: Ballot and Return Information

    Frequently Asked Questions: Mason County Forest Festival 2026

    When is the Mason County Forest Festival 2026?

    June 5–7, 2026 in Shelton, WA. The festival runs Friday June 5 at 4 PM through Sunday June 7 at 5 PM. The Goldsborough Creek Run precedes the festival on Saturday, May 30.

    Where is the Mason County Forest Festival held?

    In downtown Shelton, WA. The Paul Bunyan Grand Parade follows Railroad Avenue. The logging show and vendors are at Loop Field. The carnival is at Grove and First. Fireworks launch from Oakland Bay Junior High and are best viewed from Wallace-Kneeland Boulevard.

    Is the Mason County Forest Festival free?

    Most events — the parade, logging show, concert, and fireworks — are free to attend. Carnival rides require ticket purchase. The Goldsborough Creek Run (May 30) has a registration fee.

    What is the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Western Qualifier?

    A competitive logging skills competition at Loop Field featuring axe throwing, log rolling, and chainsaw events. The 2026 Forest Festival event is a Western regional qualifier for the national STIHL TIMBERSPORTS series.

    Where are the best spots to watch the fireworks?

    The Manke Fireworks Show launches from Oakland Bay Junior High. Parking lots along Wallace-Kneeland Boulevard offer the best viewing angles and space. Arrive early — the fireworks draw the largest crowd of the festival weekend.

    How long has the Mason County Forest Festival been running?

    The 2026 event is the 81st annual Forest Festival, which began in 1945 to celebrate Mason County’s timber heritage.

    What charity does the Goldsborough Creek Run benefit?

    The run benefits the Mason General Hospital Centennial Guild and the Kristi Armstrong Memorial Scholarship. Multiple distance options are available including a Junior Jog for younger participants.



  • Funko HQ in Everett: What to Expect, HQ Exclusives, and Why Spring Is a Great Time to Visit

    Funko HQ in Everett: What to Expect, HQ Exclusives, and Why Spring Is a Great Time to Visit

    Funko HQ in Everett isn’t just the world’s largest Funko store — it’s one of the most distinctly Everett cultural experiences you can have, and spring is a good time to visit.

    Funko’s world headquarters at 2802 Wetmore Ave is where the company makes, designs, and ships the Pop figures that have become one of the most recognizable collectibles on earth. The public retail experience there is the flagship — bigger than any other Funko store anywhere — and it’s paired with periodic HQ-exclusive releases not available through general retail channels.

    What to Expect Inside

    The store is organized by franchise: Star Wars, Marvel, DC, anime, gaming, music, sports, horror, and dozens of niche properties all have dedicated sections. If you’re a collector, you know exactly what that means. If you’re bringing someone who isn’t, the sheer density is its own spectacle. Figure displays are arranged creatively throughout the space — some are simple shelf displays, others are full set pieces that function as photo backdrops.

    HQ Exclusives

    Funko releases Everett HQ-exclusive figures seasonally — items only available at this location and not through general retail. These change regularly and are the primary reason frequent visitors keep coming back. Spring exclusives are typically released ahead of major pop culture events. Follow @originalfunko on Instagram and check funko.com for current exclusive availability before making a trip specifically for one.

    Events

    Funko HQ periodically hosts signings and launch events tied to major releases. These are announced through Funko’s channels with variable lead times — some sell out within hours. Worth following if you’re passionate about a specific property.

    Practical Details

    2802 Wetmore Ave, Everett WA. On-site parking. Open seven days a week — check funko.com for current hours. Easy to pair with a waterfront lunch or dinner at Restaurant Row (short drive).

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Where is Funko HQ?

    2802 Wetmore Ave, Everett WA. Check funko.com for current hours.

    What are HQ-exclusive Funko figures?

    Figures only available at the Everett HQ location, not through general retail. They change seasonally. Follow @originalfunko or check funko.com for current exclusives before visiting.

    Is Funko HQ good for families?

    Yes — particularly for kids who know pop culture. The franchise organization makes it easy to find what they’re into. Legitimate Everett field trip destination.

  • What’s Happening at the Schack Art Center This Spring — And Why You Should Go

    What’s Happening at the Schack Art Center This Spring — And Why You Should Go

    The Schack Art Center is one of Everett’s best free cultural resources — a working ceramics studio, public gallery, community classroom, and anchor of the monthly Art Walk — and most people in the city have never walked through the door.

    Located at 2921 Hoyt Ave, the Schack is not a museum you observe passively. It’s a working arts center where kilns are firing, printmakers are at the press, and fiber arts looms are in use. The public gallery is free. The classes and studio memberships are affordable. And the Schack anchors Everett’s third-Thursday Art Walk, which runs through downtown galleries monthly on the third Thursday — the next one is April 16.

    The Gallery

    Rotating exhibitions in the main gallery space, free and open to the public. The Schack shows regional and local artists across mediums. Check schack.org for the current exhibition and opening events — the Schack publishes their calendar regularly and it’s the authoritative source.

    Classes and Workshops

    The Schack runs ceramics, printmaking, fiber arts, painting, drawing, and mixed-media classes year-round at multiple skill levels. Drop-in workshops require no prior experience. Multi-week sessions are available for deeper development. The ceramics program is the most serious in Snohomish County — if you’ve ever wanted to learn to throw on a wheel, this is your place. Register at schack.org.

    Sorticulture 2026

    The Schack’s signature annual event — Sorticulture, a garden arts festival at the Everett waterfront drawing thousands of visitors — is the summer highlight. 2026 dates not yet officially announced; watch schack.org. It’s worth planning around.

    April Art Walk — April 16

    Third Thursdays monthly. Next one: April 16. Free. Start at the Schack at 2921 Hoyt Ave and walk the downtown gallery circuit from there. Most galleries stay open until 8 or 9 PM on Art Walk nights.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is the Schack Art Center free?

    The gallery is free and open to the public. Classes and studio memberships have fees. Check schack.org for current hours and registration.

    Where is the Schack?

    2921 Hoyt Ave, Everett WA 98201.

    When is the next Everett Art Walk?

    April 16, 2026 — the third Thursday of the month. Free, walkable through downtown galleries. Start at the Schack.