In collaboration with Quilted Strait and The Artful Ewe, Port Gamble will again become a fiber artist’s paradise with the fifth annual Fibers & Fabrics Festival, May 6 and 7.

This extremely popular festival attracts visitors from all over the Pacific Northwest and will include prizes and stunning quilt and fiber arts displays at the Hood Canal Vista Pavilion and the historic St. Paul’s Church.

Visitors will have the opportunity to shop at the booths of several local fiber and fabric artists and vendors who will be in Port Gamble for the show, as well as visit The Artful Ewe I & II and Quilted Strait for demonstrations and supplies for weaving, knitting, quilting, embroidery, spinning and wool appliqué.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to visit the other shops and the restaurants in Port Gamble. Check out www.quiltedstrait.com and www.theartfulewe.com for event details.

One of state’s largest mountain bike races

The Northwest Epic Series Stottlemeyer 30/60 Mountain Bike Race is looking to top last year’s race with nearly 400 cyclists May 13 in the Port Gamble Uplands.

The race consists of a 30- and 60-mile heart-pumping course through the trails surrounding Port Gamble. Visit Kitsap Peninsula and Olympic Property Group LLC are among the top sponsors of this race. Part of the proceeds from the race registration benefits the North Kitsap Trails Association, a group of volunteers who are instrumental in maintaining trails all over North Kitsap.

If you want to challenge yourself with this epic race, visit www.nwepicseries.com to register.

Townwide sidewalk sale on Mother’s Day

The Port Gamble businesses will host a sidewalk sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mother’s Day, May 14. Fabulous bargains are to be had, so come to town for brunch and then walk it off by checking out all the deep discounts. Don’t miss out!.

Celebrate Earth Day with P.G. merchants

To celebrate Earth Day on April 22, Tango Zulu will give away a packet of vegetable seeds with every African basket purchase.

Mrs. Muir’s House is offering free bag of tea and toffees with any teapot purchase and free dessert with a pot of tea and scones in a tearoom seating.

Wish Mercantile will be giving away notepads that are “Farm/Farmer” related. Other businesses will also be participating. For a full list of shops in Port Gamble, visit www.portgamble.com.

Local dahlia garden draws summer crowds

Years ago, the Kitsap County Dahlia Society started a project — planting dahlias by the Post Office — at the request of then-town manager Shana Smith.

The dahlias have become a big draw for visitors to Port Gamble, and the society works hard to make sure that good varieties are planted there.

The Dahlia Society also has a garden located behind the Post Office. The main purpose of that garden is to grow tubers for the society’s popular annual tuber sale in April, in Silverdale. Volunteers usually bring the leftovers from that sale to Port Gamble, so look for activity around the Post Office garden in late April and early May.

Port Gamble’s own Master Gardener Mark Smith is anticipating planting 100 dahlia plants with 50 beautiful varieties in front of the Post Office building.

“We are looking to plant a total of 200 plants with nearly 100 varieties in both gardens,” Smith said. “A visitor favorite is the ‘‘Harvey Koop,’ which is a dinner plate multi-colored flower.”

Be sure to like the Kitsap County Dahlia Society on Facebook to stay up to date on their activities.

Never again worry about parking

Did you know that Pope Resources/Olympic Property Group LLC has six parking spaces for rent, literally steps from the Kingston ferry landing?

These prime parking spaces can be rented on a month-to-month basis for $65 a month with no deposit and ACH capable. Please contact Port Gamble property manager Tonya Caswell at 360-297-7251 to rent a no-hassle, prime parking space, and make your commuting life easier.

Port Gamble’s 2017 Event Calendar

Port Gamble is set for an exciting year of events — from Muddy Paws, Ghost Conference, Country Christmas, to monthly trail activities.

You can stay up to date with activities and events at Port Gamble by subscribing to the monthly Port Gamble E-Newsletter. For information or to sign up, please contact the events office at 360-297-8074 or email portgamble@orminc.com.

You can also check out our Calendar of Events for 2017 at www.portgamble.com.

— Contact Port Gamble Gazette columnist Pete Orbea at porbea@orminc.com