BELFAIR HERALD

Allyn Days returns next weekend in the summer sun

Kirk Boxleitner | Jul 06, 20230

When the Allyn Community Association was started in 1986, it was inaugurated with the first Allyn Days celebration, which grew to include the Salmon Bake and Geoduck Festival as it evolved into a summer tradition.

“It was a community party, and the salmon was grilled over alderwood, then smoked and served,” said current community member Jason Ilarraza. “From there, it evolved into all of this.”

When Ilarraza became involved with Allyn Days, he was a vendor coordinator for the event, before he became vice president, then president, of the Allyn Community Association. He’s remained as excited as ever about the opportunity to celebrate the region, the community and the lifestyle he loves.

“The Pacific Northwest offers the water, the mountains and nature, and especially here in north Mason County, you get to take all of that in,” Ilarraza said. “Allyn Days is about capturing an atmosphere and sharing it with others, whether it’s fellow locals, or guests and visitors.”

The three-day weekend, which runs July 14, 15 and 16 and takes place at the Port of Allyn waterfront, features a beer garden running all three days.

The evening of July 14 kicks off with musical performances on center stage, with Billy Shew and Nick Cain from 5:30-8 p.m. The next evening welcomes a lineup of local band The Wednesdays from 1-2 p.m., the Backwoods Windjammers from 2-3 p.m. at the gazebo, followed by King Krom from 3-4:30 p.m. and the Jaggernots from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

The weekend ends with Captain Matt and Tugboat from 11 a.m. to noon, Ignite from 12:30-1:30 p.m. and the Chameleons from 2-3 p.m., followed by Swing Fever from 3-4 p.m. at the gazebo and Alive 85, an Elvis Presley tribute group, from 4-5:30 p.m.

It’s not just musicians. Joe Black precedes all the bands Saturday with a magic show for children from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The Kids Zone aims to keep youngsters entertained with bouncy houses, rides on a “train” made of barrels and driven by a tractor, and a touch tank courtesy of the Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association. All are free.

“Master Blaster’s Paintball Park, based in Grapeview, will even have an area set aside for on-site paintball,” Ilarraza said. “We’ll also have oversized yard games, from giant chess pieces to towering Jenga blocks.”

The July 15 salmon bake and July 16 geoduck festival begin at 11 a.m., and will dish out their signature entrees until none remain.

Each plate of that Saturday’s salmon dinner is slated to include salmon steak, fry bread, coleslaw and skillet corn, while that Sunday’s shellfish selections are set to include geoduck sliders from the Boat House Restaurant and Bar in Allyn, Hoodsport Fjord Oyster Bank chef Xinh Dwelley’s geoduck wontons, mussel stew from Port of Allyn Operations Manager LeAnn Dennis and oysters on the half shell.

Those meals will be served while supplies last, but Ilarraza promised the Allyn Community Association would continue to make hamburgers and hot dogs available throughout the weekend, along with ice cream.

For those looking to burn calories, the schedule for July 16 includes a 200-yard mud run, which assembles its runners at 11:30 a.m. for an 11:45 a.m. start, followed by the two rounds of oyster-shucking contests, from 1:30-2 p.m. and from 4-5 p.m.

“That mud can get pretty thick, and it’s easy to sink into it pretty deep,” said Ilarraza. Runners can register at http://www.tinyurl.com/4ydn7aky.

Ilarraza praised Allyn Days’ many on-site vendors and event sponsors, including Kitsap Bank, Windermere Peninsula Properties, the Haven In Allyn Assisted Living, the HUB Center for Seniors, Mason Health, Mason Public Utility District 3 and Explore Hood Canal.

“It’s the Port of Allyn’s park that we’re playing in,” Ilarraza said. “Mason Transit Authority will be shuttling folks to and from the event. And Taylor Shellfish provides the shellfish for the Geoduck Festival. So many businesses and individuals have been good enough to contribute to Allyn Days, but we still need more volunteers, so anyone who can lend a hand is encouraged to contact the Allyn Community Association.”

The Association can be reached at 360-275-5002.