||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER |||
Four local bands will create a festive atmosphere at the Village Green in Eastsound on July 15th, as part of Orcas Senior Center’s 2023 Cider and Mead Festival. Music from the stage is free during the regular Farmers’ Market, and tickets to the festival are available online at the festival’s website, www.orcasislandciderfest.org
Scheduled bands include the Orcas Senior Center ukulele kanikapila group, featuring Kathy Collister and her senior center students. Come sing-along to their familiar tunes! Next up will be Smithers, a band from Bellingham, featuring Kai Ross, a graduate of Orcas Island High School now at Western Washington University. The beat will change with Dust Bunnies, a local funk rock band, highlighting Al Bentley on tenor sax. Completing the lineup will be a classic garage band, Feral Mary and the Mother Electrix. Playing mostly originals, their vibe is uplifting, sometimes ambient and psychedelic. The band is composed of Mary Wachter, Jill Sherman, Suzanne Olson, Hannah Parker, and Penny Mills.
At the festival, ciders and meads from regional producers will be available for sampling and purchase. The event is a great opportunity to invite your friends for a weekend on Orcas to sample local products, food booths, village restaurants, shops and more!
Does anyone know if there is going to be a local cider competition this year?
For all of us who make our own cider on Orcas and were looking forward to the annual competition, here is the response to my question about the cider fest:
Hi Ken,
We are not sponsoring any homemade Cidar or Mead. Although it has been done in the past, the WA State Special Occasion permit actually does not allow it.
– Paula Shuman
Frankly, I find this response appalling. Don’t get me wrong, I’m fine with bilking tourists $40 for 5 tastes of cider from commercial producers. But what about islanders that make cider and would like a friendly local competition? Kind of a kick in the head to all of us, eh?