Studium Generale: Poetry Reading with Robert Michael Pyle & James Dott
Peninsula College Little Theater | Thursday, April 23 | 12:35PM-1:25PM
Join us for a poetry reading with Robert Michael Pyle and James Dott. In Robert Michael Pyle's thirtieth book—and fifth poetry collection—the beloved writer and Cascadian naturalist returns with poems and prose that wriggle, shimmer, and sing. Swimming with Snakes is full of the vitality, humor, reverence, and wisdom that mark Pyle’s decades-long devotion to the wild and near-at-hand. James Dott's Touch Wood is a lyric field guide to trees. Each poem is an ember coaxed to flame to light a path toward a deeper understanding of trees and our kinship with them. The short life and tragic death of David Douglas, early North American botanist, threads through the collection. Touch Wood’s poems are elegies, narratives, and meditations on our tangled histories.
Teen Tuesday: Creative Writing
Port Angeles Main Library | Tuesday, April 28 | 3:30PM-4:30PM
Every Tuesday after school through May 26, teens in grades 7–12 can find activities and snacks at the Port Angeles Main Library. Choose which week interests you, or drop in every week for something new! This Tuesday, teens can work on their poems, novels, or short stories through writing exercises and prompts.
From Science To Action through Art: 4 Artists bear Witness to Climate Change
Port Angeles Fine Arts Center | Thursday, April 30 | 6PM-8PM | Tickets Required
Join us for a unique evening of art, music, essay, and poetry as we present, "From Science to Action through Art: Four Artists Bear Witness to Climate Change." Natalie Niblack, an artist exhibiting the installation “66 Birds/ 3 Degree” in the Field Notes exhibition will present in partnership with fellow artists Northwest Poet Holly Hughes, Canadian-American composer and performer Sarah Bassingwaighte, and philosopher-essayist Kathleen Dean Moore. Together they will create a transformative evening that helps translate scientific understanding into words, music, and art that make the facts of climate change deeply real, visceral and relatable. You will enjoy birdsong, choral music and poems inspired by birds, both living and extinct, and moving essays accompanied by music bearing witness for all species threatened by climate change.
"More than the Blues" Opening Reception
Port Angeles Main Library | Friday, May 1 | 6:30PM-8PM
More than the Blues: Perinatal Mental Health Awareness Art Exhibition will be on view at the Port Angeles Main Library throughout May, which is recognized as Perinatal Mental Health Awareness Month.
Pregnancy and postpartum are often romanticized, yet many parents face significant mental health challenges in this period. More than the Blues aims to explore the emotional complexities of this experience through diverse artistic perspectives. By raising awareness and fostering open dialogue, we aim to support families, reduce stigma, and inspire stronger community care. The exhibition is presented in partnership with First Step Family Support Center and the Clallam-Jefferson Perinatal Mental Health Task Force.
Art In Bloom: Floral Gallery Display
Port Angeles Fine Arts Center | May 8 - 10, 2026 | Entry: Free with a Suggested Donation
Join us at Port Angeles Fine Arts Center for a treasured annual tradition, Art In Bloom, from Friday, May 8th-Sunday, May 10th. For one weekend only, the Esther Webster Gallery will be filled with living beauty, as floral masterpieces are displayed to complement the current exhibit, Field Notes. Accredited local floral designers will create arrangements inspired by the art in this exhibition and showcase their work alongside the art pieces they drew their inspiration from on Mother's Day Weekend.
Art In Bloom is a celebration of former Garden Club member and PAFAC board member, Mim Foley. Be a part of this vibrant annual tradition, honor her legacy, and stop by and smell the florals.
Port Angeles Community Players 74th Anniversary Gala
Port Angeles Community Players | Saturday, May 9, 2026 | 6PM-10PM
Break out the polyester, shine up those platforms, and get ready to boogie—because the Port Angeles Community Players are throwing a far-out 70s-themed gala you won’t want to miss. This isn’t just a party. It’s a FUNdraiser with a mission: helping us upgrade our theater seating so every show comes with maximum comfort. We’re talking full-on “Tushy Cushy” transformation.
Olympic Coast Collaboration: Hand Built Stoneware Bird Feeders
Port Angeles Fine Arts Center | May 16 or 17, 2026 | Workshop Cost: $80 (Includes: all materials, firing, & instruction)
Celebrate art and nature through a special hands-on pottery experience held at Olympic Coast Creative in collaboration with Port Angeles Fine Arts Center. Inspired by the Field Notes exhibition in the Esther Webster Gallery running from April 10-July 5, this engaging, beginner-friendly workshop invites you to create your own ceramic bird feeder while exploring texture and design techniques. Guided step-by-step, you’ll craft a functional and beautiful piece, complete with your choice of glaze, perfect for enhancing your outdoor space and welcoming local birdlife. Join us on May 16 or May 17 from 10AM-1PM for this immersive creative experience. All materials are included with the $80 registration, and participants will also enjoy a 10% discount at the Fine Arts Center gift shop during the exhibition. Take home not only a handcrafted piece, but also a memorable creative experience rooted in celebrating the beauty of our region.
Studium Generale: Reception for Longhouse Guest Artist Holli Margell
Peninsula College Little Theater | Thursday, May 21 | 12:35PM-1:25PM
Longhouse Guest Artist Holli Margell will first offer a presentation during Studium Generale beginning at 12:35 pm in the Little Theater. Holli began her photography career while a Peninsula College student, graduating in 2002. An Eastern Shawnee tribe of Oklahoma citizen, she will share her art photography exhibition, Memory Thread which explores her ancestor’s removal from the Ohio territory to Oklahoma. An exhibition of Holli’s art will be on display in the Peninsula College Longhouse during spring quarter. There will be an artist reception in the Longhouse immediately following Holli's presentation for continued conversation and connection. All are welcome!
Book Launch: Laura E. Garrard & Linda B. Myers
Port Angeles Fine Arts Center | Thursday, May 21, 2026 | 5:30PM-7PM
Join us to celebrate Port Angeles poets, Linda B. Myers and Laura E. Garrard, at a launch for their respective chapbooks, Load-Bearing Walls and Paddling the Sweet Spot Between Life and Death. Their books were simultaneously selected and published through a contest by Finishing Line Press. Myers and Garrard will read from and sign their books, which complement one another in vulnerability, candor, craft and creativity. This is a free event open to the public.
Juan de Fuca Festival
Juan de Fuca Foundation For The Arts | May 22 - May 24, 2026 | 11AM-10PM
The Juan de Fuca Festival is the premiere music festival on the North Olympic Peninsula. Now in our 33nd year, the Juan de Fuca Festival continues to celebrate art, music, and community. Spanning three days with multiple stages, this iconic weekend offers a diverse performance lineup, community performances, a FREE artisan street fair, family friendly activities, a beer & wine garden, and a fantastic assortment of festival food.
The Hands at Twelve & Twelve
Peninsula College | May 29 - 30 & June 5 - 6, 2026
When the clock strikes midnight, a murder takes place at Evelyn Williams’ birthday party. As the suspects are questioned, tensions rise, secrets are unearthed, and the day’s twisted events are revealed. And as each recollection of the day is brought to light, the different memories layer onto each other, crafting a path to the killer. The Hands at Twelve & Twelve, a murder mystery play by Peninsula College Honors Student, Brianna Palenik.
$15 general admission; Free for current Peninsula College students.
Miss Holmes
Port Angeles Community Players | May 29 - June 14 | Tickets Required
When an anonymous note sends a newlywed wife searching for help, Miss Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Dorothy Watson are drawn into a chilling conspiracy of brass, blood, and betrayal. Beneath a haze of steam and gaslight, they investigate a corrupt police inspector whose wives have a habit of turning up dead… and whose secrets may be engineered to stay buried.
Inspired by the works of Arthur Conan Doyle, this theatrical fan fiction reimagines the Victorian world through a steampunk lens, where ingenuity is power and danger ticks like a wound spring. As Holmes and Watson navigate a society of airships, automata, and rigid expectations, they must outwit both mechanical marvels and human monsters to expose the truth.
Blooming Artists: The Creative Start Showcase & Celebration!
Port Angeles Fine Arts Center | Pop-Up: Tuesday, June 2 - Sunday, June 7 | Celebration: Tuesday, June 2 from 3PM-6PM
We are thrilled to once again partner with the Port Angeles School District, WSU Extension, and the Washington State Arts Commission to bring youth-inspired programming to our community. Join us as we celebrate arts, science and interdisciplinary learning through a pop-up exhibition showcasing the work of more than 250 K-2nd grade students from Franklin, Jefferson, and Dry Creek Elementary. View their work on display in the Esther Webster Gallery, celebrate a year of arts-integrated learning at our Creative Start Celebration party, and embrace the joy of creativity!
Want to lend a helping hand to make this event a reality? Sign up for the Blooming Artists: Pop-Up Exhibition Volunteer Night! that will take place on Tuesday, May 19th to prepare decorations, displays, and more!
Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest
Peninsula College | Tuesday, June 2, 2026 | 9AM-3PM
Tidepool Launch Party
Peninsula College | Friday, June 5 2026 | 5:30PM-7:30PM
Join us for an evening celebrating the release of the latest issue of Tidepools, Peninsula College’s student literary and arts magazine. This event showcases outstanding student and community work in writing, visual art, and music, and brings together contributors, judges, editors, faculty, and community members to honor the creativity and voices of our community.
The program will include an open house with time to connect with contributors, explore the new issue, and browse a pop-up art exhibit, followed by brief remarks, selected readings, and recognition of contest winners.
View the Full Calendar of Arts District Activities
Visit the Clallam County Community Calendar to view the full list of arts and culture activities happening with the Uptown Arts District.