Peninsula College promises something for everyone at the Fall Spectacular on October 1, from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. on the Port Angeles campus. The inaugural community festival will deliver hot air balloon baskets of fun for all ages, with family-friendly attractions, food, drink, live music, and hands-on activities delivered in hometown celebration style. Attendees may enter to win event swag, and a new laptop will be given away each hour beginning at noon. All activities – except food and drink purchases – are free and open to the public.

“Fall Spectacular is anything but a traditional college open house,” said Peninsula College president, Dr. Suzy Ames. “We want to connect with folks of all ages in an immersive festival atmosphere. We want kids on the Peninsula to grow up with fond memories of this event, and we want them to know the college is a place where they belong.”

Hot air balloon displays and rides will be offered on the athletic field by Captain Crystal Stout of Morning Star Balloon Co. The tethered hot air balloon rides, dependent upon safe weather conditions, will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis and anchored by Wilder Auto vehicles.

For the young and young-at-heart, Robins Green will feature a zipline, 24’ dual inflatable slide, inflatable soccer darts, 20’ enclosed bounce house, inflatable bungee run, 32’ rock climbing wall, and a wacky junior inflatable obstacle course.

A variety of food and drinks will be available for purchase, including Welly’s Real Fruit Ice Cream; Fogtown Coffee; Leftie’s Baseball Beer and Wine Garden, and Peninsula College Market and Deli, as well as vintage-style cotton candy and popcorn.

Cherokee conceptual artist, Karen Sixkiller, will provide drop-in beading workshops throughout the day at the House of Learning, Peninsula College Longhouse.

The Uptown Arts District will offer an Art Zone in the quad featuring free face painting, sidewalk chalk drawing, and interactive booths. Port Angeles Fine Arts Center will host printmaking activities; Juan de Fuca Foundation for the Arts in partnership with North Olympic Library System will offer a Día de Muertos display and flower-making activities; and Olympic National Park will display an interactive glacier memorial with glacier art activities.

Clallam County Mosaic, Port Angeles Coast Guard, and Olympic Medical Center will also host interactive booths, and Clallam 2 Fire and Rescue vehicles will be available to explore.

The festival main stage on Robins Green will feature the Lower Elwha Song and Drum Group, Port Angeles High School Jazz Band, and Soulshakers Blues Band. Be sure to stop in at the PUB to hear a PC Talk, fascinating 20-minute lectures offered by PC faculty.

Interactive classroom activities will be held across campus including Raku Firing and Clay Throwing; Prairiescapes and Prairie Plants; Film and Digital Storytelling; Esports Arena Tour and Games; Anatomy/Physiology Demonstration; Makerspace Activities; Welding Demonstration; and Medical Assisting and Nursing Program Lab Tours.

Seven Cedars Casino will generously provide free shuttle service to the event with various stops throughout Sequim and Port Angeles, and Clallam County Transit offers routine service from downtown PA to campus throughout the day.

Fall Spectacular is made possible by the generosity of Peninsula College Foundation, with funding for PC Talks and Interactive Classroom Activities made possible through a National Endowment for the Humanities American Rescue Plan (ARP) grant that supports humanities faculty, staff and projects impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.