Local groups, individuals earn state event, festival awards

January 19, 2023 1:30 am
Sean Coleman, Washington Festivals Events Association’s 2022 Washington State Volunteer of the year, celebrates the honor with Victoria Jones, executive director of Port Angeles Marathon Association, recipient of Best of Show for the Run the Peninsula series, at WFEA’s annual awards dinner on Nov. 2 in Bellevue. Submitted Photo
Sean Coleman, Washington Festivals Events Association’s 2022 Washington State Volunteer of the year, celebrates the honor with Victoria Jones, executive director of Port Angeles Marathon Association, recipient of Best of Show for the Run the Peninsula series, at WFEA’s annual awards dinner on Nov. 2 in Bellevue. Submitted Photo

By Sequim Gazette Staff

Several organizations across the North Olympic Peninsula received top honors at the Washington Festivals & Events Association’s annual conference in November, highlighted by Sean Coleman — Lincoln Park BMX’s president and track operator — earning WFEA’s Volunteer of the Year.

According to the WFEA website, the association “seeks to assist members and the special event industry to improve and advance industry standards by providing professional and leadership development, and technical assistance statewide for the festivals and events industry.”

Association members and guests celebrated honorees at the WFEA awards dinner in Bellevue on Nov. 2.

The Port Angeles Marathon Association received seven awards, including Best Show for Washington State for the Run the Peninsula series. That series also garnered awards in three other categories: Promotional Video; Promotional item (series medal), and Healthy Lifestyle event. The association’s North Olympic Discovery Marathon took top honors for Postcard Mailers, while its Kids Marathon won for Educational Program and Community Outreach.

The two recipients of the North Olympic Peninsula Chapter Event of the Year were The Wooden Boat Festival in Port Townsend and Twilight Festival in Forks.

The Juan de Fuca Foundation for the Arts received three awards: Promotional Poster (Small Glories); Direct Season Concert Direct Mailer, and Newspaper Tabloid.

The Olympic Medical Center Foundation received two awards: Event Recap/Annual Report and Sponsorship Proposal (Harvest of Hope).

Coleman has been invaluable to not only his organization but also to the entire Port Angeles community, noted Victoria Jones, executive director of the Port Angeles Marathon Association, in a press release. (Coleman also grew up on the West End.)

Forks Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lissy Andros and Forks Visitor Center and FTF collection staff member

Gay Bunnell attended the November awards ceremony.

Andros said, “It was an honor to win our region along with the Wooden Boat Festival, and to be nominated for the state award.”