Bands, choruses, tours, picnics, kites, quilts, watercolors and other attractions will fill the air all weekend, Aug. 23-24, as Whidbey Island’s Admiralty Head Lighthouse celebrates its 100th birthday with a grand party. A complete centennial weekend schedule and other information about the lighthouse may be found at www.admiraltyhead.wsu.edu. Parking at Fort Casey will be free both days.
For children, a history hunt from 1-4 p.m. both afternoons will provide a chance to learn some history, track down some answers and win a kite.
The lighthouse, on the grounds of Fort Casey near Coupeville, started operation in 1903, replacing an earlier wood-frame lighthouse that had been in service since 1861.
Saturday, Aug. 23
Saturday, Aug. 23, the fun starts with band classics from 1890 – 1945, performed by the Ballard Sedentary Sousa Band from 9:30 -10:30 a.m. Opening ceremonies will follow from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Battery Turman with Rev. Jim Lindus of Freeland’s Trinity Lutheran Church as master of ceremonies. Colors will be presented by Washington Army National Guard, followed by music by the Straits of Juan de Fuca Barbershop Chorus, the introduction of a lighthouse descendant and remarks by Coupeville Mayor Nancy Conard.
From 12 – 1 p.m., Navy Big Band Northwest will excite the crowd with wartime and swing era music.
Afternoon events include a specially-authorized postal cancellation ceremony of Century of Service postcards, using a limited supply of the 1989 Admiralty Head Lighthouse stamps issued by the U.S. Postal Service. The stamp has been out of circulation for nearly 10 years.
Afternoon events also include the children’s History Hunt, book and poster signings, barbershop favorites from Straits of Juan de Fuca Male Chorus, guided tours of the Lighthouse and Fort Casey, a conference with speakers Ray Aliberti and Elinor DeWire, and displays of quilts and watercolors.
Sunday, Aug. 24
Sunday’s program, Aug. 24, starts at 10 a.m. with Whidbey Kite Flyers. A picnic will follow from 12:30 -2:30 p.m., with ladies and gentlemen invited to bring a lunch basket. Picnickers will be entertained from 1:30 to 3 p.m. by the Seattle Banjo Band on Lighthouse Hill. Author Ray Aliberti will sign copies of his monograph about lighthouse architect Carl Leick. Seattle artist Teresa Saia of Studio Siena will sign copies of her Admiralty Head Lighthouse commemorative poster. Rarely seen collections of quilts will be on display, and there will be a silent auction of watercolors by the Northwest Watercolor Society.
At 3:30 p.m., winner of the centennial quilt drawing will be announced. The one-of-a-kind quilt was created by Greenbank quilter Doris Northcutt. It is in the lighthouse entryway.
