The holidays are a special time in Port Gamble, and 2013 was no exception.
More than 4,000 people attended Port Gamble’s annual Country Christmas in December, and the historic town glowed with holiday cheer. Visitors enjoyed hay rides through town, Santa’s Workshop, holiday shopping, fireworks, the spectacular tree-lighting ceremony, and Washington state’s oldest and most prestigious fruitcake contest during the annual holiday celebration.
Ferrell Gas, Westerlund Tree Service, Millican Crane Service and Olympic Property Group sponsored the 2013 event.
Winners of the fruitcake contest in the professional and amateur divisions will be announced in the next Port Gamble Gazette. It’s never too early to become a sponsor for the 2014 Country Christmas.
The holidays may be behind us, but the New Year is packed with activities, exciting changes, and new beginnings at Port Gamble.
The Port Gamble General Store closes for a month, starting Jan. 1 for an exciting expansion and facelift. The restaurant is expanding its kitchen and dining room, and is adding a beautiful outdoor deck that will offer amazing water views. The restaurant will reopen in the first week of February, and the new dining room and outdoor dining area are scheduled to open May 1.
Mike’s Four Star BBQ, recently named one of the best BBQ spots in the Pacific Northwest by Evening Magazine’s “Best of Western Washington” contest, will be closed Dec. 16 to Feb. 5. The Port Gamble General Store and Historic Museum closes Jan. 1 through Feb. 1.
There still are plenty of dining options in town.
Stop by Port Gamble Coffee or the Tea Room at Port Gamble for a quick warm-up and then stroll through town to see what Port Gamble has to offer this winter.
Did you or someone you know get engaged during the holidays? January is a perfect time to discover why Port Gamble was named one of the Pacific Northwest’s top 10 wedding venues by Evening Magazine.
Mark your calendar for Jan. 26, for an open house hosted by Port Gamble Weddings at the Hood Canal Vista Pavilion. It’s a unique opportunity to meet with some of the distinguished preferred vendors, sample delicious food and tour the historic St. Paul’s Church. For information, go to www.portgambleweddings.com.
You can also visit Port Gamble Weddings Jan. 4-5 at the Tacoma Wedding Expo at the Tacoma Dome (www.bridesclub.com), or Jan. 11-12 at the Seattle Wedding Show at the Seattle Convention Center (www.weddingshow.com). Visit the websites for details and tickets for these great events.
The ghosts of Port Gamble don’t take a break during the winter months. Space is still available for the popular Ghost Walks on Jan. 18, Feb. 15 and March 15. Tickets are $20 per person for ages 16 and older. Special paranormal investigations and in-depth paranormal tours of the Walker-Ames House, suitable for novice or experienced investigators, are scheduled for Jan. 25 and Feb. 8. The cost is $30 per person for ages 16 and older.
New-business alert in Port Gamble
We would like to extend a warm welcome to A Bling Thing, a business that specializes in custom handmade bead and stone jewelry and rhinestone horse tack.
A Bling Thing opened recently at 32281 Puget Way NE, across the street from Quilted Strait. For information, visit www.a-blingthing.com.
Stay up to date on activities and happenings at Port Gamble by subscribing to the monthly Port Gamble E-Newsletter. For information or questions regarding the events in Port Gamble, contact the events office at 360-297-8074 or email portgamble@orminc.com.
You can also visit our website at www.portgamble.com.
— Shana Smith is general manager of Port Gamble. Contact her at ssmith@orminc.com.
