PORT ORCHARD — The flock of seagulls that populate Port Orchard’s waterfront once again will help determine who will win the annual Seagull Calling Festival Saturday, May 27, where the water meets the beach at Waterfront Park.
Past winners have enlisted novel techniques to lure the hungry birds to shore: using screechy seagull mimicry, offering shredded bits of bread and even by donning gaudy costumes.
When that hasn’t worked, all semblance of fair play often falls to the wayside. Cookies, candy and other shady bribes have been known to be waved under the noses of some of the less-than-noble wig-donning judges, with the hope that a treat in hand might mean a vote in the bag for a ruthless contestant.
That’s half the fun of the waterfront event. While kids make up the majority of contestants, individuals and groups of any age are welcome to compete, said Matt Murphy, executive director of the sponsoring Port Orchard Chamber of Commerce.
Registration for prospective seagull callers begins at 1 p.m., Murphy said, and the event kicks off at 2 p.m.
Celebrity judges expected to participate include Port Orchard Mayor Rob Putaansuu, 26th District Rep. Michelle Caldier and 6th Dist. U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, all of whom will be fitted with flowing white wigs and red robes, which presumably will put them in the proper mindset for fair and impartial judging.
That is, unless a scalawag is successful in trading a treat for a vote in true “quid pro quo” fashion.
“Maybe we’ll offer a prize for the best bribe,” Murphy mused.
For contestants leery of using subterfuge to gain a vote from the judges, it might be more effective to to use it with the malleable seabirds.
“It might be a good time for people to start chumming the seagulls to get them trained before the event,” Murphy said with a wink.
For attendees whose interests are more of a culinary nature, there’s the “seagull wings” cook-off, taking place during the 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. run of the event. Judging starts at 11 a.m., then wings will be available for purchase beginning at 12 p.m. The barbecued treats will be priced at $1 each. Murphy said there will be 11 varieties of wings to be judged.
Amateur and commercial contestants will vie to see who can come up with the most delectable dish of wings. Last year, Everybody’s American Cookhouse took the top honor.
The Dock Bar and Eatery won second place, along with the People’s Choice Award. The late, lamented Port Orchard Lighthouse took the third place award. Chef Clancy Donlin (and City Council member) took home the top amateur award.
If your thing doesn’t include gulls or wings, you might be compelled to visit a display of drag race cars that typically race at the Bremerton Raceway in Sunnyslope. Also on display will be street cars from Northwest Nights Motorsports.
Next door to the seagull calling and wings cook-off event, the Port Orchard Farmers Market will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Market vendors are part of several community-based local agricultural advocacy groups, according to the Chamber of Commerce.
