Four Festivities on the Summer Solstice

Saturday Farmers’ Market

Farmers’ Market is in Eastsound at the Village Green from 10-3 from May to September. In the fall, the cool weather pushes it indoors to the Odd Fellows Hall, which feels warm, cozy, and homey.

Summer Solstice Parade

Beginning at 12:00, it might only last 15 minutes some years, but it draws a great crowd and the weather is always beautiful.

Annual Island Hardware & Supply Celebration

A uniquely Orcas festivity, Island Hardware’s annual celebration is a free all-day shindig right outside in the covered lumber-loading area. There’s food – hot dogs, hamburgers, cake, popcorn, and soda. There are perks – goodie bags with rulers, flashlights, and doodads for kids; 20% off all purchases; face painting; knife and scissor sharpening; and a great band playing from the inside of a semi trailer. And our favorite activities…hammering, hula hooping, and tape measuring contests with generous gift certificate prizes for adults and sports prizes for kids; and decorating cement stepping stones before they dry. The day’s festivities last through the afternoon until 3:30.

Annual Orcas Island Garden Tour

This is one of my favorite summer events. You buy the $20 tickets from a local shop selling them, then you get a map and two days to visit six or so gardens around the island that have been chosen for their beauty, abundance, aesthetics, or unique setting. You go where you want, at your own pace. Our kids thoroughly enjoy the tour for the diversity, the access to places we never normally see, and the plants and landscaping creativity we get to see.

Each year most of the gardens on the tour are different. We’ve had great experiences on past tours – walking the acreage of a sprawling Japanese-themed garden; being permitted to pick dozens of masterpiece peas from a gardener’s abundant, curly bushes; and observing mixed-media art lessons amid the beauty of another gardener’s sprawl.

Unfortunately, we totally missed the event this year. I knew it was coming and forgot about it in the weekend’s full schedule of festivities. Boohoo…..