June 29 to July 1
• Free music at Wild Island kicks off with a sextet lead by the young bass player Stanley Ruvinov, Thursday through Saturday from 12:30 to 2 p.m.
Ruvinov who recently earned his masters degree from Temple University is already a well respected sideman and band leader. Starting to merge into Seattle’s jazz scene at the early age of 15 he’s playing professionally in many bands performing throughout the US. He returns to the stage this season with an exciting line up of jazz musicians from Seattle and Bellingham.
Jay Thomas, Seattle jazz legend who’s also been touring and recording in Japan the past thirty years. Dan Markus who toured with Ray Charles and Woody Herman to name a few.
Blake Angelos with Bellingham’s Julian McDonough band and Julian himself who most recently toured with Devon Lamar through the US and Europe.
Saturday, July 1
• Orcas Island Fire and Rescue pancake breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m. at the Eastsound Fire Station. Volunteers will be serving up their secret recipe for pancakes, sausage, eggs and beverages.
Adults $10, children $7, under 7 are free. All proceeds support the local firefighters and EMTs.
• Annual parade. This year’s theme of the Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce July 4th events is “Orcas Come Together” as they focus on celebrating our strength and resilience as a community by bringing the entire island out for a great weekend of family-friendly fun. Visit https://orcascometogether.my.canva.site/july-fourth to register for the parade, which will start at noon and go through Eastsound. Grand marshals are Lance Evans and Janet Brownell.
• Lion’s Club Salmon BBQ from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Eastsound Fire Station. Enjoy smoked salmon, BBQ chicken, baked potatoes, rolls and cole slaw. Takeout is available. Adults $22, children $15. Tickets are available at Kay’s and at the door.
• Free concert with Seattle-based good vibe, indie rock band, Craetorus at 5 p.m. at Orcas Island Winery. Families and children are welcome! Perfect picnic goodies are available for purchase at the winery but outside food is welcome. Lopez Island’s Poutine Your Mouth food truck will be on-site with all sorts of yummy eats! Please bring your own picnic blankets and chairs. Arriving early is recommended and carpooling is encouraged! Families and children are welcome. Perfect picnic goodies are available for purchase at the winery but outside food
• Crow Valley Gallery is thrilled to announce Carl Buttke’s new show “Celebrating 30 Years of Painting on Orcas Island.” The opening is Saturday, July 1st from 4 to 6 p.m. The show runs through July 31.
Buttke paints primarily with watercolor from nature here on Orcas Island and from his travels throughout the U.S. and Europe. Carl began painting as a child in Wisconsin, followed by a career as a consulting transportation engineer. Thirty years ago he resumed his childhood desire of becoming an artist by studying at the Pacific Northwest College of Art continuing education program in Portland, Oregon, in the studio of James Kirk for over 15 years, and with Stephen Quiller. Carl has painted extensively in villages throughout France, including Monet’s Giverny garden, Spain and Portugal.
“The watercolor paintings in this exhibition, a part of my ‘Reflections’ series, were created within the past year in a large format to explore and convey the mystery between the real and the imagined – the conflict between the seen and unseen. My intent by painting images of forest reflections on our waters of the San Juan Islands is to take the viewer into the depths of the forest with the unease of the dark spaces and bring out the joy of the water reflections,” he said.
Sunday, July 2
• The American Legion Annual Pig Roast starts at 4 p.m. at 793 Crescent Beach Dr.
• Orcas Center Summer Concert series featuring Carl Verheyen in the Village Green is at 6 p.m. In his 50-plus years of playing the instrument, Verheyen has created a wildly successful, multi-faceted career. He is a critically acclaimed and Grammy-nominated musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger, producer and educator with 16 CDs and two live DVDs released worldwide.
Commonly regarded as a guitar virtuoso capable of playing any style of music with remarkable mastery and conviction, he has been one of LA’s elite “first call” session players for the past 36 years. Carl has played on hundreds of records, movie soundtracks and television shows and won numerous polls and musical awards all over the world.
And as a member of the British rock group Supertramp since 1985, Carl has played to millions of enthusiastic fans in sold out arenas worldwide. He has toured every year with the Carl Verheyen Band playing theaters and blues, jazz, rock and guitar festivals all over the world.
Tuesday, July 4
• Enjoy the following in the Village Green. 5K Fun Run at 8 a.m.; from 11 to 3 p.m., Community Picnic and Market with food and retail vendors; chili cook-off; homemade pie; cake walk; and family fun activities. There will be a live auction during the picnic for special fireworks viewing from the Waters Edge, Oddfellow’s patio, and more. To register for the run and volunteer opportunities, go to https://orcascometogether.my.canva.site/july-fourth.
The main event is live music on the Green with Baker & West, Bad Dads and the Ian Moore Band from 4 to 10 p.m.
• At dusk, the fireworks will begin. Sponsored by the Orcas Chamber.
• Independence Day event from 4 to 11 p.m. at West Beach Resort. Food, games, music, dancing, prizes and a fireworks show.
Wednesday, July 5
• Turtleback Brass to open Music at Emmanuel. The Music Committee and Emmanuel Episcopal Parish is pleased to present the Turtleback Brass at the opening concert on Wednesday, July 5, at noon.
The Turtleback Brass includes Steve Alboucq (trumpet), Dimitri Stankevich (tuba), Oliver Groenewald (trumpet), Joe Boucher (trombone), and Don Breazeal (horn). You may recognize these musicians from their performances with the Orcas Community Band, Island Sinfonia, Orcas Choral Society, One World Festival, Orcas TheHorns and musical theater productions.
The brass Quintet is named after the Turtleback Mountain Preserve where you can experience some of the most breathtaking views on Orcas Island. The instrumentation is based on the typical classical brass quintet lineup which was formalized in the 1940s and 1950s.
