Reminiscing Pre-COVID Life

Just in case you’ve begun to wonder if community life actually happened as you remember it, it did! Wonderfully cozily and maskless, too!

Here’s a glimpse of festivities we were accustomed to enjoying together – community cob-oven pizza nights, Camp Orkila’s Fall Festivals, pumpkin carvings and cider pressings, team sports, community Thanksgivings at Oddfellows Hall, Children’s Christmas Markets, Holiday Teas at the library, Holiday Artisan Faires, Christmas festivities at Lum Farm, Christmas concerts at the Community Church, holiday concerts with Crow Valley String Band and Brograss, Christmas plays at Orcas Christian School, the Santa Ship and festivities at the Deer Harbor Community Club, Christmas Eve services at the Community Church, extreme races, farm workshops, paper-folding classes, Kiwanis Paper Airplane Contests, concerts and plays at Orcas Center, Seniors Have Talent shows at the Senior Center, Science Fairs at the Funhouse and the Public School, grafting workshops with Madrona Murphy and insect clubs with Russel Barsh, Spring Roar obstacle courses, Trashion Fashion Shows, Whale of a Show and Orcas Has Talent, Clay Cafe workshops, bake sales in front of Island Market, Doe Bay concerts, Young Eagles annual flying days, birthday parties, Island Hardware’s annual celebrations, Summer Solstice parades, Farmers Markets, 4th of July festivities and barge fireworks, community zip-line days at Camp Orkila, Vacation Bible Schools at the Community Church, BMX evenings with Wildlife Cycles, weddings, sailing camps, Parkour Camp, outdoor concerts and movie nights at the Village Green, church choirs with Stephen Newby from SPU, Artists’ Studio Tours, San Juan County Fairs, Zumba classes with Alyson, Canoe Island French Camp, Salmonberry’s Fall Festivals, and Orcas Island Film Festivals.

May we keep on keepin’ on, finding joy in our little quaranteam gatherings and making new, wonderful memories in the meantime to look back on someday.

Orcas Island, you’re doing a fantastic job with masks and distancing. Keep it up and stay healthy, y’all!