Poetry, books, oysters and music are on the roster this week. Also, people will have the chance to do the “Chicken Dance” at Oktoberfest, head to the Cirque Lab for a vinyl release and show up for an illuminating artist talk in La Conner.
Poetry in La Conner
This month brings a world of fresh, provocative voices to the 11th Biennial Skagit River Poetry Festival, Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 6–8, in the historic town of La Conner. The three-day event features performances, readings, workshops and discussions with some of the most renowned and diverse names in poetry, including the critically acclaimed Terrance Hayes, a former National Book Award winner.
The festival opens Thursday evening with the Poets Table Soiree, a mixer that includes wine and locally sourced hors d’oeuvres, and a chance for attendees to meet the poets one-on-one. The Thursday night reading honors our rich First Nations’ history with poet and American National Treasure Ray Young Bear, Washington State Poet Laureate Rena Priest and Swinomish poet and author Sasha LaPointe.
The festival also presents some of the most thoughtful voices in contemporary poetry, reflecting cultures from around the world. The lineup includes Javier Zamora, Samiya Bashir, Lorna Crozier, Karen Solie, Liz Howard and Austin Smith. Top Northwest poets on the bill include Claudia Castro Luna and teaching poets who work in the schools, including Samar Abulhassan, Jeffrey Morgan, Jourdan Keith and Matt Gano. Tickets are available at skagitriverpoetry.org.
Oktoberfest
The Deming Logging Show’s Oktoberfest returns from noon to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 7–8, at the showgrounds at 3295 Cedarville Road. Originally established in 1963, the logging show, which takes place every June, was inspired by the need to financially assist the families of loggers who were injured or killed in the woods in Whatcom County. The Oktoberfest is a fundraiser for this event. Entertainment includes the Tirolean Dancers, the Polkatones, Sylvia’s German Variety Band, and the “Chicken Dance.” Bavarian food will be served. Attendees must be 21 or older to enter. More at demingloggingshow.com.
The spirit of memory
Portland author Lara Messersmith-Glavin will talk about memory, alternative narrative forms and the power of talismanic objects as she reads from her new book, “Spirit Things,” the latest in the Alaska Literary Series from UA Press, in a free event at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, at Village Books, 1200 11th St. This event is hosted in collaboration with the North Cascades Institute as part of its Nature of Writing series. Attendees will be encouraged to explore their own relationships to “spirit things.” Find out more at villagebooks.com.
Circus and music
Bellingham Circus Guild will collaborate with Gueris, a musical recording project by Aaron Guest (Polecat) and Michael Iris (Petty or Not), at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, at the Cirque Lab, 1401 Sixth St., in a 21-and-older event.
This special one-off show will be a vinyl record release: The album will be played in full with a six-piece band, featuring circus arts acts throughout the performance. Gueris features notable Bellingham musicians Christian Casolary on drums, David Lofgren on percussion, Stephen Blair on bass and Stephanie Walbon on vocals. Guest will play keyboards, and Iris will play guitars. (Read more about the concert in The Beat Goes On.) Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door and are available at bellinghamcircusguild.com.
Read & Share
Whatcom County Library System’s fourth annual Read & Share features Bellingham author Clyde W. Ford’s award-winning memoir, “Think Black.” It is a vivid portrayal of the intersection between technology and race and the tension between a trailblazing father and rebellious son. Borrow the book or eAudiobook from the library. Then register for online author events that take place Saturday, Oct. 8 through Nov. 10, that include book discussions and writing workshops at wcls.org/readandshare. Space is limited and registration is required.
This year’s Read & Share program, Ford said, lends itself to tough discussions about race and the extent to which technology dominates our lives. “Think Black” won the 2021 Washington State Book Award for creative nonfiction. Listen to an interview with Ford in WCLS’s latest podcast episode at wcls.org/podcast.
Looking for pearls?
The Blaine Oyster Fest takes place from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, at the H Street Plaza on Peace Portal Drive. Hosted by Blaine Chamber of Commerce and the city of Blaine, the festival features succulent oysters from Drayton Harbor Oyster Co. Activities include oyster shucking and slurping contests, live entertainment, street vendors, family-friendly activities, oyster farm tours and an oyster cook-off with area restaurants. Find out more at blainechamber.com.
Art talk in La Conner
Chicano artist Jake Prendez presents “The Art of Rebellion: Social Justice and Chicana/Chicano Visual Arts” at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9, in La Conner at the Museum of Northwest Art, 121 First St. He’ll trace the history of social justice art, from the rise of Mexican muralism to its influence on American artwork from the civil rights era and the modern era, and he will deconstruct his own artwork to show how it relates to this greater narrative. For more information on the free event, which is part of the Humanities Washington Speakers Bureau Program, go to monamuseum.org.
Family secrets
Harriet Cannon talks about her recently published book, “Exiled South,” at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9, at Village Books, 1200 11th St. The book is of special interest to Pacific Northwest readers because it begins on the Olympic Peninsula. A tragedy sends Lizbeth Gordon, a school counselor, on a quest that takes her to Charleston, South Carolina, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Her obsession with solving the mystery of the disappearance of ancestors after the American Civil War takes her on a wild ride and an opportunity for family reconciliation. Read more about the author at harrietcannon.com.
Lynden Music Festival
The “Claire de Lune” Lynden Music Festival, taking place Oct. 12–15, is a festival celebrating all genres of music, and performers from near and far at numerous venues in Lynden, with more than 100 musicians from all different genres, and for the first time ever, Arabian music!
The festival begins with an intimate house concert with Martin Alvarado (vocals) and Matti Laukkanen (piano) at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, at The Treehouse, 826 Van Dyk Road. Tickets are $50 and include appetizers and wine. Reserve your spot at (360) 510-0654. Lynden Mayor Scott Korthuis opens the festival at noon Wednesday, Oct. 12, at the Jansen Art Center, 321 Front St. Some events are free; others have minimal admission. For a complete schedule, go to lyndenmusicfestival.com.
Jazz trio
The Jazz Center of Bellingham brings the Ari Hoenig Trio back to Bellingham for a show at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12, at the FireHouse Arts and Events Center, 1314 Harris Ave. Hoenig is a jazz drummer, composer and educator renowned for his unusual and intense approach to drumming, emphasizing complex rhythms in direct harmony with other group members. He’s known for his ability to modify the pitch of a drum by using drum sticks, mallets and even parts of his body. Using this technique, he can play any note in the chromatic scale, virtually any melody and even improvise on a chord structure in the same way any other instrumentalist would. He’ll be joined by Gilad Hekselman on guitar and Matt Penman on bass. Tickets are $15–$30. Info: jazzcenterofbellingham.org.
Before attending an in-person event, check with individual venues to make sure it is taking place as scheduled.
Margaret Bikman’s column runs every Wednesday. Reach her at margaret.bikman@gmail.com.
