The Uptown Street Fair celebrates 26 years of fun this Saturday, Aug. 20. The annual event takes place throughout the Uptown Port Townsend commercial district, with events happening all day long. Organizers invite the community to "come make a day of it" in historic, pedestrian-friendly Uptown.

Dancing in the streets seems likely, with live music and entertainment happening from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on an outdoor stage at Lawrence and Tyler streets. Festivities also include the Port Townsend Arts Guild Arts & Crafts Fair on Tyler between Lawrence and Clay, and the Port Townsend Farmers' Market, in its Wednesday market location on Polk Street between Lawrence and Clay, both opening at 9 a.m. A variety of food vendors are to be set up on Lawrence between Polk and Tyler, as well as an outdoor beer garden in front of the Uptown Pub for ages 21 and older.

The juried Arts & Crafts Fair features local artisans not usually seen at the weekly farmers market. Monies raised from Arts & Crafts Fair booth fees help fund Arts Guild college scholarships. The Community Bowl Project is selling previously painted bowls to benefit the food bank. Fairgoers can also paint a bowl to be fired and sold at future events.

Free art activities for kids of all ages take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Spontaneous arts activities crop up throughout the site; look for giant balloons, chalk art, coloring pages, fire jugglers and more.

The highlight of the day is the "Grandly Local" parade at 2 p.m., billed by organizers as "the shortest and most colorful parade in the Northwest!" The parade is hosted by the Port Townsend Great Kinetic Skulpture Race's own Janet Emery.

EVERYONE A WINNER

Jeanne Murphy of Potpourri Interiors and Ginny King of "Art of the Undecided" have teamed up to create one-of-a-kind trophies for parade entries. Special Olympic-style medallions are to be presented, featuring a casting of the Uptown bell tower made by Jeff Taylor and Jeff Lark. All parade entries win a prize. The awards presentation takes place on the music stage, immediately following the parade.

People or groups interested in being in the parade should meet by the East Jefferson Fire & Rescue station at Lawrence and Harrison at 1:30 p.m. No religious or political entries, please.

STREET CLOSURES

Lawrence Street closes between Polk and Taylor from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., as do Polk and Tyler between Lawrence and Clay. During the parade, from 1:30 p.m. until about 2:15 p.m., Lawrence is blocked from Harrison to Taylor.

The Uptown Street Fair is coordinated by the Port Townsend Main Street Program and sponsored by Main Street, the Washington State Arts Commission, the National Endowment for the Arts and numerous local businesses. This year's poster features original art by Uptown resident Michael Hale. Visit ptmainstreet.org for updates and more information.