“Celebrate America” at Freeland Park in Freeland gets underway mid-afternoon with kids’ activities. Family-friendly musical entertainment begins on stage at 6 p.m. and finally the fireworks (the largest on Whidbey Island) get underway about 10:20 p.m. There will also be also all kinds of food available.
For more information visit: https://freelandchamber.org/
Maxwelton 4th of July Parade 12 Noon at Maxwelton Beach
Don’t miss this family fun and very Whidbey event! The parade typically begins at the intersection of Maxwelton and Swede Hill roads and proceeds down Maxwelton Road, ending at Dave Mackie Park, where food and commemorative buttons are available for purchase and classic family games are played in the park. Walking down to the Parade route is encouraged though it is a long walk downhill. Free shuttle service is available and runs from Cascadia Meadows at the Little Brown Church from 10:30- Noon and from the parade from 1 to 2:30 p.m. www.maxwelton.org
Langley Lights the Night Saturday, July 6, 6-10 p.m.
Aerial Light Show begins at 9:45ish
Music:
Whidbey Island Sound Machine 6 – 7 p.m. on Cascade Ave
Kick-Brass 7:15 – 8 p.m. on Cascade Ave
Shifty Sailors 8:15 – 9 p.m. on Second Street
Janie Cribbs and T.Rust Band 9:15 – 10 p.m. (until start of Aerial Light Show) on Second Street
Our Family Friendly Fair on Cascade Avenue will include:
Volunteers are needed to help with event set-up and parking for the Langley Lights the Night celebration.
Go to visitlangley.com/volunteers to sign up. Thanks!
Events
First Saturday Art Walk July 6, 4-7 p.m.
*Early 4 p.m. Art Walk start for Artworks, Museo, Rob Schouten and Whidbey Art Gallery for the July opening due to Langley Lights the Night event.
After months of waiting, Artworks Gallery finally reopened on June 19. As a thank you to the community for their support there will be a reopening celebration on July 6th, the day of Langley’s First Saturday Art Walk. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. we will feature artist demonstrations in the courtyard and serve celebratory cake. During Art Walk, there will be a free drawing for three handwoven gift baskets filled with art, each valued at $300. Entries for the baskets are available in the gallery anytime until July 6th at 5:30 p.m.Featured artists for July are Jim Short and Sarah Silverman-Pucci
Jim Short has worked with wood his entire life, first as a carpenter, and now as a skilled woodturner. Every piece he creates is sourced from Whidbey Island.
Sarah Silverman-Pucci is a Seattle native who earned her bachelor’s degree in Illustration, and a further certification in Scientific Illustration from the University of Washington. Her love for drawing plants and animals is evident in all of her work. Her watercolors are vibrant and detailed, capturing the beauty and humor in nature.
In July Museo welcomes the work of painters Michael Dickter and Faith Scott Jessup and ceramicists Cara Jung and Susan Mattson. View how each artist explores the natural world through shape, color and texture. It is a beautiful show!
Join us during Langley’s Art Walk for the opening reception on Saturday, July 6th from *4-7pm. The gallery is closed on Thursday, July 4th. The show runs through Sunday, July 28th.
Rob Schouten Gallery presents “Chasing the Light,” new paintings by Teresa Saia in July. Known for her bright palette and fluid direct manner, Saia presents her landscapes bathed in an abundance of vibrant light and expressive radiant color. Her free style captures the dramatic light as it penetrates the sky, the land, and reflects off water at dusk or in the early dawn. Her paintings explore the worlds she has discovered in her many travels abroad each year, as well as the beauty she finds in the Pacific Northwest and around her home on Whidbey Island. https://www.robschoutengallery.com/teresasaia
Whidbey Art Gallery’s July Guest Artists will be Diane Baxter (3D), ceramicist and Michelyn Gjurasic (2D), pastels.
Diane Baxter has always been drawn to the simple but complex beauty of the natural world, such as the color and texture of rocks, plants and the raw earth, as well as how the sand looks when the tide goes out or the variations in tree bark. Clay has been my main and favorite medium, but in the past few years she’s branched out to include other organic materials, working in the wabi-sabi style, the Japanese concept of finding the beauty in imperfection and impermanence, especially in nature.
Michelyn Gjurasic was literally dragged into her first art class when her 5-year-old daughter’s art teacher insisted on filling an empty seat 22 years ago. Initially fearful, Michelyn’s confidence blossomed quickly as she became familiar with painting landscapes in both soft and oil pastels.
Rootstock: The Shifty Sailors & Clepper and Harris of the Porch Brothers
July 7, 4-8 p.m.
Mommafish dinner pre-orders due by 7/3 at 10 a.m.
Biercuterie cheese pre-orders due by 7/5, 11 a.m.
Mommafish and Biercuterie are donating a portion of their proceeds
Habitat for Humanity Homebuyer Program Meeting July 8
The public is invited to Habitat for Humanity’s next Homebuyer Program Informational Session scheduled to take place at Freeland Public Library in the Milby Community Meeting Room on Monday, July 8, from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
In order to ensure we have enough handouts for all who would like to attend, we request you RSVP with Michelle, our Office Manager, via email: office@islandcountyhabitat.com
Please bring any questions you may have.
Library Walk with Earth Sanctuary
Tuesday, July 9, 2 – 4 p.m.
Join us for a guided tour of Whidbey’s Earth Sanctuary with its owner and creator, Chuck Pettis.
Earth Sanctuary is a peaceful and magical sacred space sculpture garden, nature reserve and retreat center with two miles of nature trails, three bird-filled ponds, and a variety of powerful sacred spaces. Chuck will explain why he has created Earth Sanctuary, his 500-year plan to return the property to an old-growth forest, and lead 60-second meditations at several of Earth Sanctuary’s sacred spaces. Experience the labyrinth, two stone circles, two Medicine Wheels, Buddhist stupa, dolmen, prayer wheels, artworks, and a habitat ideal for observing birds and wildlife.
The tour will be on grassy and wooded paths with some grade changes. Comfortable walking shoes are suggested, along with weather-appropriate clothing. Participants may bring binoculars for bird watching, although they are not required.
Please complete registration for each person attending the tour. To register, visit https://sno-isle.bibliocommons.com/events/65ea205cddb9e34100a44963
This free outdoor program is part of the Sno-Isle Libraries’ summer-long Library Walks series. Visit new Whidbey Island locations all summer to learn about Whidbey’s local gems and complementary library resources. For a full list of this year’s Library Walks visit https://sno-isle.bibliocommons.com/v2/events?programs=63d9505dd74638eb9d…
Earth Sanctuary is located at 5536 Emil Road in Freeland.
Summer Classes at Wildly Beloved Foods
Learn the art of pasta making with workshops at the Wildly Beloved Foods Marketplace and Studio.
Register for one of our classes instructed by founding owner Aurora Echo. Each workshop includes light charcuterie and fresh pasta tasting.
Choose your favorite themes including: a simple pasta, egg pasta, spinach pasta and stuffed pasta.
Inquire about private events! Friend events, birthdays, family gatherings, corporate team-
building, and just for group foodie fun.
Workshop dates:
Thursday, July 11 @ 5:30 p.m. Fresh Spinach Pasta Class, $95
Thursday, July 25 @ 5:30 p.m. Fresh Potato Gnocchi Pasta Class, $120
Thursday, August 8 @ 5:30 p.m. Fresh Ricotta and Herb Tortelloni Pasta Class, $120
Thursday, August 22 @ 5:30 p.m. Fresh Laminated Pasta with Herbs & Flowers Class, $120
Community Meeting
Introduction to the Langley Comprehensive Plan
Please join us for a community meeting to kick-off the 2025 Comprehensive Plan update process.
A comprehensive plan provides goals and policies intended to guide the day-to-day decisions of elected officials and local government staff. The plan will also guide growth and development in the City over the next 20 years from 2025-2045.
• Land Use • Housing • Economic Development • Transportation
• Parks & Open Space • Capital Facilities • Utilities • Climate
Help shape the future of your community!
To Learn more: https://bit.ly/langley2025compplan
If reasonable accommodation for a disability is needed, please contact us at
(360) 221-4219 at least 24 hours prior to this meeting.
Summer Jazz Weekend@ WICA!
Trumpeter Thomas Marriott Friday, July 12 @ 7:30 p.m.
Trumpeter, composer, and producer Thomas Marriott is a force for jazz on the West Coast. He’s paid dues beside jazz elders such as Maynard Ferguson, Roger Humphries, Roy McCurdy, Mike Clark, and Stix Hooper. He has been called on by contemporary standard-bearers like Joe Locke, Orrin Evans, John Clayton, Steve Wilson, and Charlie Hunter. A chameleon of musical styles, Marriott’s horn has been in demand with bands like the Grammy-Award winning Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Captain Black Big Band, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstafunk, hip-hop pioneer Deltron 3030, and vocalists Kurt Elling, Ernestine Anderson, Michael Feinstein and Rosemary Clooney.
Come Away With Me…Cool Tunes for Hot Summer Nights,July 13 @ 7:30 p.m.
Join us for an evening of musical enchantment with the splendid concert featuring the talented Ada Rose Faith-Feyma on vocals, the masterful Troy Chapman strumming the guitar, and the amazing Sheila Weidendorf on piano.
Island Roots Housing Wine Tasting Friday, July 12, 5 – 7 p.m. @ Ott & Hunter’s
Complimentary tasting, wine bottles and cases available for purchase Ott & Hunter have crafted a special edition “Island Roots” Bordeaux style blend, primarily composed of Cabernet Franc and Malbec exclusively for us. Proceeds from the wine support affordable housing initiatives. We invite everyone 21 and older to join our wine tasting party. Drop by at your convenience; we’ll have an information desk where you can learn more about Island Roots Housing. Bottles and cases of the wine will be available for purchase tonight and while supplies last at The Goose. Enjoy stunning views of Saratoga Passage as you savor our special edition wine by the water’s edge!
Summer Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop Sunday July 14, 1 – 3 p.m. with Tobey Nelson CPH
Attend this class to learn why and how to prune fruit trees in summer. Thinning in July and August helps to maximize fruit quality and can help with disease management in your orchard. This is a second level pruning demonstration, so if you’ve already taken a basic pruning class or have some basic pruning knowledge (heading vs thinning cuts, fruiting vs vegetative wood, etc.) you’ll get more out of this class. NOTE: This class will be held at the Organic Farm School on Maxwelton Rd, NOT at the nursery. Bring your gloves and a pair of pruners if you’d like to get some hands-on practice making correct cuts. Students will receive a coupon for 20% off plants from the nursery. Class fee is $45, to register, call us at 360-321-9931.
Workshop Length: 75 minutes
We’ll take a look at the song “Sweet Georgia Brown” and I’ll show you different ways to solo over this tune and to create a great chord solo!
Happy Hour Jam afterward from 4-5 p.m.
The public is welcome to view and listen to the jam.
Cost: $40 per person https://lisaliuguitar.com/event/5649851/686070957/lisa-liu-gypsy-jazz-gu…
Leo and Leto’s Winery and Bistro
5511 Freeland Avenue, Freeland
Ott & Hunter Wine in the Woods July 19-20
Join us for peaceful wine walk through the serene woods of Ott & Hunter Winery, following neat paths and stopping at tasting stations along the way. Our lovely staff will be pouring some new, current, and library wines. Total distance will be about 1/2 mile, so wear comfortable walking shoes. As with most woods in these parts, be prepared for the occasional fly or mosquito and dress weather appropriately!
You are welcome to bring your own snacks to accompany the wine. If you are a wine club member you will also be able to pick up your Spring Club allocation and/or purchase additional wine.
Cost: $25 (Wine Club, per person – up to two people) – $50 pp additional / non-wine club.
PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE (for club members purchasing tickets online, the discounted price will not appear until you check out.) or RSVP- text preferred at 253-592-8795 or email info@otthunterwines.com with name (wine club y/n), preferred date, start time and number of guests in party.
Whidbey Children’s Theatre Present Shrek Jr. The Musical July 19-28
Kinship by Jeanne Dodds @ Hub Art Gallery July 20-September 9
Goosefoot Community Fund presents Jeanne Dodd’s first solo art exhibition on Whidbey Island. She is an artist, biodiversity conservationist, researcher, and educator whose creative practice investigates place identity and systems relationships. Her work in Kinship combines natural pigment, photography, and mixed media to document her connection and relationship with the natural world.
Opening Reception and Artist’s Talk
Saturday, July 20, 3 – 5 p.m.
Hub Art Gallery / Bayview Cash Store
5603 Bayview Road, Langley
Open Daily 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Celebrating the Many Voices of the Guitar
Join us for a weekend full of enchanting melodies and rhythmic brilliance. The Many Voices of the Guitar Festival will be held July 19-21 @ Whidbey Island Center for the Arts (WICA).
Full festival passes available: $115.
Whidbey Island Triathalon
Saturday, July 20, 9 a.m. Start
Join us for the 28th annual Whidbey Island Triathlon. Our athletes and volunteers have a rich history with the race and we look forward to providing an extraordinary athletic experience for you. It is our priority to do our part to ensure the safety of our athletes, volunteers, staff and Whidbey Island Community, while maintaining a quality experience for you.
Registration for the 2024 triathlon is now open. https://swparks.activityreg.com/
Info below to be updated for the 2024 triathlon in February
To receive updates on the triathlon, subscribe to our e-newsletter and follow us on Facebook.
Saratoga Orchestra Presents Percussion on the Rock Workshop July 24–27 @ Oak Harbor Methodist Church
Join us for a four day workshop/festival focusing on World Music –specifically that of Ghana & “Worldly” Percussion Chamber Music. Uniquely designed as a two-fold experience, participants will explore Ghanaian xylophone and drumming as well as classic percussion ensemble repertoire through both historical and performance contexts.
Percussion the on the Rock (POTR) is a one-of-a-kind experience is for percussionists, music educators and world music enthusiasts eager to learn in a relaxed atmosphere & supportive community.
Hosted by the percussionists of Whidbey’s Saratoga Orchestra Erica Montgomery and Brandon Nelson,
Information and registration at www.sowhidbey.com/percussion-on-the-rock
Whidbey’s Saratoga Orchestra
360-929-3045
WSU Master Gardener Education Series
This summer, gardeners from beginner to advanced from across Whidbey Island and beyond can attend a series of six free classes designed to help implement best practices in the garden. The Island County WSU Master Gardener Education Series classes are open to the public and cover everything from dealing with pests to growing great vegetables.
The series highlights how climate change and new knowledge about the impact of human behavior on nature inform and influence best garden practices. The way we garden has a big impact on our Island ecosystems. Gardeners can make a direct difference in caring for the environment in their own back yards because what is done there can affect wildlife, biodiversity, water use and human health.
Classes will be offered on the third Sunday of the month from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. May through September, and will take place at the Greenbank Education Garden, located at Greenbank Farm on Whidbey Island.
• July 21: Good Lawn/Bad Lawn
• August 18: Winter Veggies Growing Guide/Island Stalwarts
• September 15: Go Green in the Garden: Using Nature’s Own Plant Food
Library Storytime Wednesdays, June 26 – August 14 @ 10 a.m. @ Castle Park Playground @ South Whidbey Community Park
Come enjoy stories, songs, rhymes and creative activities together
as a family to prepare for the wonder of reading.
A play time or art activity may follow.
Please bring a blanket or lawn chairs. The event will be outdoors and might be in the sun or rain; participants should prepare accordingly. In the event of inclement weather (excessive rain, smoke, wind, etc.) the event will be cancelled. Online storytimes will still be available.
Freeland & Langley Libraries
Live Music
Bayview Corner Street Dances Wednesdays June-September
Dancing Fish Vineyards Live Music
Monday Bites: Dinner, wine and live music, 4:30-7 p.m.
Sunday, July 7, 1-5 p.m. Fishstock! Wear your best ’60s attire to celebrate this summer of love! Wine by glass or bottle, beer, a non-alcoholic rosé refresher, sparkling waters available for purchase, and the Chef in the Black Bandana will serve food for purchase. $25, children under 6 free. Live music featuring The Buckets, Ike & the Old Man and Philip Seters. This event is by reservation only.
Thursday, July 11, The Zan Fiskum Acoustic Trio
Sunday, July 14, Beverly Graham Concert Fundraiser for Whidbey Island Nourishes (WIN)
Double Bluff Brewing Company is a place for community events and live music.
“Solo in the City” at Double Bluff Brewing Co. Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. (no cover charge)
July 3: Sage Hays
July 10: Andre Feriante
July 17: Tim Trautman
July 24: Andre Feriante
July 31: Alicia Elliot
August 7: Andre Feriante
August 14: Mandy Johnson
August 21: Andre Feriante
August 28: Alicia Elliot
September 4: Andre Feriante
September 11: Tim Trautman
Visit Double Bluff Brewing Company in Langley, Monday from 3 to 8 p.m, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 11:30 a.m to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
In the summer Double Bluff has live music every Saturday performed under their outdoor bandstand.
Visit Double Bluff Brewing Company in Langley, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 3 to 8 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Leo and Leto’s Winery and Bistro
Introducing Chef Kyle O’Neill and Michelle Graham as new owners!
Open Wednesday and Thursday dinner 4-8 p.m.
Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday Brunch 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and dinner 4-8 p.m.
New items such as specialty cocktails and Kyle’s new spring menu!
Live Music Saturdays @ 5:30 p.m.
July 13, Trio Nouveau
July 20. Lounge Sound
Leo and Leto’s Winery Tasting Room, 5511 Bistro 5511 Freeland Ave, Freeland
360-321-0515
South Whidbey Parks & Recreation Summer Concerts in the Park, 6-7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 30, Doctor Savage
Tuesday, August 6, One Island Drop
Tuesday, August 20, Moonlight Swing Orchestra
Free! South Whidbey Community Park on Maxwelton Road. Bring chairs or blankets and picnic food if desired.
Summer Happy Hour Under the Tent @ WICA Through August 31
The ever popular Happy Hour Under the Big White Tent returns as part of WICA’s Summer Nights Series. Every Friday and Saturday night, running June 21 thru August 31, listeners will be entertained by local musicians from 5 to 7 p.m. Admission is free, and beverages and snacks are available for purchase. Stay tuned for the summer line-up!
Ott & Hunter Winery Tasting Room
204 First Street, Langley www.otthunter.com
Sales and Markets
Island Art Glass Holiday Sale
Through Monday, July 8
Here we are once again – time for our Annual Holiday Sale, the big one we save items for all year!
We stage the sale in our glass studio on tables, offering a great selection of items marked just a bit over wholesale, and below!
Rob will discover and display some of our early glass history pieces as well.
Everything is laid out on tables and stands for your selection. You are welcome to invite your friends! We restock with new inventory every day, so if you miss the first day or two, no worry.
In the gallery and garden, all items are offered at 15% discount, and are color coded to be sure our cashiers don’t miss your savings.
Parking is ample, both in the gravel parking close in, and overflow in the mown field nearby.
We will have signs at the highway and on Double Bluff road to guide you in if you are visiting for the first time.
And we will have signs guiding you to both sales locations and the cashiers and packing.
Island Art Glass
2062 Newman Road Langley
Whidbey Island Summertime Arts & Crafts Market July 5-6, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. @ Bayview Hall
Only Whidbey creators and makers! And everything from pysanky eggs to paintings to embroidered cloths, hand-crocheted frogs to fused glass suncatchers to cutting boards, and much more. Rain or shine because we’re inside Bayview Hall at 5642 Bayview Road.
5th Annual Summer Arts & Crafts Market @ Cultus Bay Gardens July 27-28
Join many popular former vendors along with a great selection of NEW artists this summer!
Saturday, July 27, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday, July 28, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Ceramics, jewelry, woodwork, cards, flowers, garlic braids, body care products including salves, shampoo, lip balm, perfumes and more! Candles, clothing, screen printed tea shirts, napkins and tea towels as well as blacksmith items, earrings & paper products.
Refreshing beverages and homemade cookies for sell by Pasha, Aditieh and Jura! A special late afternoon meal on Sunday the 28th, prepared by James Beard Chef Matt Dillon. Tickets for that meal will be reserved ahead of time on his website. I will have a link to that in my newsletters.
All this is set among the abundant. cheerful gardens around the Victorian style farmhouse – each vendor under a garden umbrella. It’s a glorious site and most folks favorite Summer Market – quality and care going into everyone’s work. To see more artists listed and photos of their work we post it on our website www.cultusbaygardens.com. You can also sign up for email newsletter which also lists classes we host.
Cultus Bay Gardens
7568 Cultus Bay Rd. Clinton
360-622-6275
Oriental Rug Show @ WICA July 26-27,
10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Parviz Khorram will be displaying an extraordinary assortment of hand-made Oriental rugs (in all sizes) and offering his inventory at 49%-69% off regular prices. Prices slashed to sell, over $300,000 of original hand-made Oriental rugs in all sizes. Guaranteed lowest prices! Don’t miss the best selection and huge savings. All reasonable offers accepted.
NEW Inventory – NEW Low Low Prices
Whidbey Island Center for the Arts
565 Camano Ave., Langley
Whidbey Island Distillery Blackberry Orange Peel Liqueur featured @ Pop-up Market @ Madrona Supply Co. in Clinton Saturday, July 29, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
South End Farmers Markets Open Now!
Bayview Farmer’s Market is open every Saturday until October 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. South Whidbey TilthMarket, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. every Sunday until October 13.
Walker Art Fundraiser
Are you in need of a one-of-a kind walker so that you can be the envy of all your friends? We have the walker for you!
With an excess of aluminum walkers in our Medical Equipment Lending Libraries, we decided to turn them into functional pieces of art and then sell them to support the programs at Island Senior Resources! Designed by local artisans and craftsmen, each piece of Walker Art is safe, usable, collapsible, and the decorations are long-lasting. With a great variety of styles, there is something for everyone!
$30 minimum donation
Walkers are for sale at: Senior Thrift – 5518 Woodard Ave, Freeland (10-4 Tuesday through Saturday)
ISR Bayview – 14594 SR 525, Langley (8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday) NOTE: All donations to Island Senior Resources before July 31 will be matched dollar-for-dollar by a generous donor.
Our herbal studio is open the following days in June:
Tuesdays, noon to 5 p.m.
Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (except closed June 1 and June 15)
All other days and times by appointment–just call or text.
Find us at these local makers markets this season:
July 5 & 6, 10-4, Summertime Arts & Crafts Market at Bayview Hall
July 27 & 28, 9-5 Saturday, 9-4 Sunday, Summer Arts & Crafts Market at Cultus Bay Gardens
August 11, 12-6, Mill Creek Handmade at Town Center
August 31 & September 1, 11-5, Whidbey Women & Arts at Dancing Fish Vineyards
And in the gracious hands of these local family-run shops:
Flying Bear in Langley
Bayview Garden at Bayview Corner
Madrona Supply in Clinton
The Pup Stop at Greenbank Farm
Shorelake Art Gallery in Montlake Terrace
Ritual Mischief grows and ethically gathers 50 different plants to create local plant-infused herbal balms, salves, lip balms, lotion bars, infused oils, soaps, shampoo bars, shower steamers, dish soap bars, dog shampoo bars, herbal sleep and dream pillows, and more. Current favorites are our Forest Bathing soap, Love You lotion bars, Gardener’s hand balm, Rest & Rise soaps, Sore Muscle Rub oil, Grief Support lotion bars, Moment of Wonder cuticle balm, Better Boundaries Balm, and Say It Sister lip balm. Parking: Park in the driveway or in the open field just past the driveway if the driveway is full. The herbal studio is up the driveway and around the front of the house to the south. Follow the signs. Accessibility: The driveway is paved, most of the path to the herbal studio is flat and paved, and the last ~20 feet of the path is a flat, woodchipped path. We’re happy to bring your online order to the driveway for you if you don’t want to make that journey. Online, Pick Up, & Delivery: You can order online anytime, choose Pick Up to avoid shipping, and then come pick up orders from us in our driveway. This time of year, we also deliver up the entirety of the island, typically on Sundays, so folks in Greenbank, Coupeville and Oak Harbor, you can also choose Pick Up to save on shipping. I’ll email you to arrange pick-up and delivery times. We also ship within the continental US.
The Backyard is a fun place for the whole family to play together!
Come work out while your kids play, run around with the kids and play together,
or celebrate a birthday or special occasion with us!
Book Your Summer Bioluminescence Tours Now with Whidbey Island Kayaking
We are excited to announce our 2024 Bioluminescence Experience dates and booking process!
Key Details:
• Booking access links will be shared only via our email blasts
• We cannot ‘hold’ dates for you
• Our standard cancellation policies apply
Welcome New Member:
Whidbey Island Living Legacy (WILL)
Whidbey Island Living Legacy (WILL) is forming an A501c3 nonprofit charity to raise funds, through purchase or donation, to buy land and make it available for workforce individuals to build their own affordable tiny homes within a community of tiny homes.
For more information, email Whidbeywill24@gmail.com
Announcements
Island Senior Resources $100,000 Spring Donation Match
“We made a Spring matching pledge to help raise early annual gifts due to great needs and in advance of fall election distractions.”
– $100,000 match from Island County couple
Island Senior Resources provides essential services for older adults, their families, and caregivers throughout Island County. Your donation today will be matched up to $100,000.
Please donate at https://senior-resources.org/donate/
or call Charles LaFond at (360) 210-3011.
New Grant Opportunities Available from Whidbey Community Foundation!
Whidbey Community Foundation (WCF) has two new grant programs accepting applications—the Community Health Grant Program and the Nonprofit Capacity-Building Grant Program. Any organization that operates with a charitable status or for a charitable purpose on behalf of Whidbey Island is eligible to apply for a grant.
WCF’s mission is to improve the quality of life on Whidbey Island. Many factors contribute to the conditions that shape a thriving, healthy community. A wide range of factors influence how long and how well we live, including: opportunities for education, income and wealth, safe housing, and the right to shape policies and practices that impact our lives and futures. Community Health grants will be awarded to projects and organizations that take action to improve health and eliminate unjust barriers to opportunity for all who call Whidbey home—now and into the future.
Nonprofit Capacity Building grants support the organizational strength and effectiveness of nonprofits on Whidbey Island. Capacity-building grants are awarded to nonprofits for one-time projects that address a part of the organization’s strategic plan to improve the management, governance, and administration of the organization. By strengthening the internal capacity of an organization, WCF believes the programs and services will also be strengthened.
“Our Grants Committee is made up of community members from all across our island and helps WCF determine priority areas for funding. This year, WCF has created two new grant programs that are open to all nonprofit organizations serving Whidbey Island. Through our Community Health grant program, we are looking to fund organizations working to improve the health of our Island. Our Nonprofit Capacity Building grant program will fund projects meant to fortify the foundation of organizations serving Whidbey,” said Jessie Gunn, Executive Director, “We look forward to reviewing this year’s applications and learning more about the work being done in our community.”
Grant applications will be accepted through August 31, 2024. Visit WCF’s website www.whidbeyfoundation.org for more information. If you have questions about the grant process, email info@whidbeyfoundation.org or call 360-660-5041. For more information, please visit our Grant Opportunities page.
Meerkerk Summer Garden Tours and Forest Walks
Summer is a magical time to visit Meerkerk Gardens. If you’d like to explore the gardens during this beautiful time while also learning about plants and a little history about a unique property, consider a guided tour.
These tours are free with your $10 paid admission to the Gardens.
Explore the hidden corners of Meerkerk and discover a world of enchantment with our forest or garden walk. Immerse yourself in the splendor of nature as you embark on a journey through lush woodlands teeming with life. Whether you seek quiet contemplation or an adventure in the great outdoors, our forest and garden walks offer an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Volunteer docents will be leading 40-minute tours of Meerkerk on Sundays at 1 p.m. These tours are free with your $10 paid admission to the Gardens.
Meerkerk Gardens is 53-acre garden and woodland preserve located at 3531 Meerkerk Lane in Greenbank (take the Resort Road exit off Highway 525). The nonprofit Gardens are open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. every day of the year except during extreme weather events.
Adult admission is $10. Children 12 and under are free. Dogs on leash are welcome.
Meerkerk Gardens
3531 Meerkerk Lane
Sail Back in Time on the Schooner SUVA
Join us for a Whidbey Island sailing experience on Penn Cove!
Sit back as the sails are hoisted, the engine turned off, and we cruise across the water while enjoying the scenic views of Penn Cove, Mount Baker and the Cascade Range. This is a gentle sailing experience perfect for the whole family. We sail where the wind is the best, perhaps past Snakelum Point where the Lower Skagit Tribes lived to the east, or the Penn Cove mussel farms to the west.
We depart the picturesque Coupeville wharf every Friday, Saturday and Sunday on our historic 1925 wooden pilot house schooner.
2024 Sailing Schedule
All scheduled sailings are approximately 2 hours, and depart from the Coupeville Wharf at 24 Front St NW.
Fridays: About 5:30 p.m., varies depending on sunset
Saturdays:1-3 p.m.
Sundays: 1-3 p.m.
WICA’s 2024 Summer Conservatory:
The Hundred Acre Wood Comes to Whidbey Island
The 2024 Summer Conservatory is back at the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts (WICA) with registration now open for youth ages 8-13. In collaboration with the Whidbey Institute, the Youth Summer Theatre Camp will take place August 5-16, with time split among the WICA and the Whidbey Institute campuses.
The camp is taught by Whidbey Children’s Theatre teacher Katie Kammerer, who holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre Arts with an emphasis in stage management from Southern Oregon University.
“This camp provides the unique opportunity of getting to learn and create both in a professional theatre and exploring the great outdoors on a beautiful stage. The setting is idyllic for both this play and this age group,” says Kammerer. “My belief is that theatre and the arts are about more than just a creative outlet. Theatre helps to teach empathy and kindness, two traits that cannot be learned too early or too often. I am never happier than when teaching children and watching them grow their skills in the way they treat each other as they discover new things in the world around them.”
This year’s play takes youth on a journey through the Hundred Acre Wood, or to be more precise, 106 acres of the Whidbey Institute. With a special Winnie-the-Pooh screenplay by playwright Lindsay Price, participants will enjoy a two-week adventure camp filled with magic, acting, and the great outdoors.
The first week of the camp will be spent at WICA, with students learning about lightning, sound, costuming and sets as they build their own show on the WICA mainstage. The second week will take place on the outdoor StoryHouse Stage at the Whidbey Institute, where attendees will rehearse the play and enjoy the natural surroundings of this transformational learning center. The camp will conclude with a weekend of performances by the students.
With registration now open, the camp’s 16 spots are filling up. The fee for the two-week camp is $500, with some scholarship funding available. For those interested in learning more and participating in the camp, please visit https://www.wicaonline.org/summer-conservatory for registration details.
Whidbey Children’s Theatre Offers Summer Camps in Partnership With Readiness to Learn
Summer Camps at Whidbey Island Waldorf School July 8-August 1
Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. July 8 – August 1 for children ages 3-12
For camp details and registration see our website summer camps page: https://wiws.org/summercamps
Cost $300 per week for Grades campers and $425 per week for Early Childhood campers (ages 3-6)
Early Childhood families: we are offering a 10% discount if enrolling in all 4 weeks of EC Camp. No sibling discounts
There is limited financial assistance available, to apply please email summercamps@wiws.org
For more information call 360-341-5685 www.wiws.org
Exciting New Summer Camps From WILASC
Get ready for an epic summer with WILASC’s summer camp program!
Whidbey Island Language, Art & STEM Center is hosting a fantastic lineup of camps for children ages 4-14
(BOTH half-day and full-day).
Summer Camps in Langley
Coding Camps (half day)
Intro to Minecraft: JavaScript in a Blocky World (Age 8-12)
Intro to Scratch: Create Interactive Stories, Games, and Animations (Age 8-12)
Robotics with Edison Robots (Age 8-12)
Robotics with Raspberry Pi (Age 10-14)
Special Game Design Workshop with OpenWorld by DigiPen Institute of Technology (US top 10 college in game design) (Age 10-13)
Stem and Steam Camps (half Day)
Space Science: Journey Beyond the Stars! (Age 6-10)
STEM – Contraptions and Experiments (Age 6-10)
First LEGO®️ League inspired club (Age 6-10)
Art Camps (half day, or combined with Yoga camps for full-day)
Art in Nature (Age 4-7) (almost full)
Art creation with Clay (almost full)
Sensory Exploration with Art Materials (Age 4-8) (almost full)
Fun Yoga for Kids (half day, or combined with Art camps for full-day)
Little Yogis- A Playful Yoga Adventure Camp! – Age 4-8
Junior Yogis – A Playful Yoga Adventure Camp! – Age 6-10
Farm Camp (Full Day)
Science & Art on Sweetwater Farm (Age 6-10) – FULL
Exploring the Ecosystem at the Organic Farm School (Age 9-12)
Language and Culture Camp (Full Day)
An adventure to Russian culture (Age 6-11)
10% OFF for Early Birds (sign up before June 4)
SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE on a sliding scale.
Visit www.wilasc.com/camps for all details and and sign-up.
Whidbey Island Language, Art & STEM Center
South Whidbey Community Center
723 Camano Avenue, Langley
Island Senior Resources needs volunteer Meals on Wheels drivers. Please call 360-321-1600.
Join the lunch bunch at Island Senior Resources for nutritious food and good company.
Keep up to date with ferry schedule changes:
Washington State Ferries | WSDOT https://wsdot.wa.gov
