Oct 26 Sunday
Never Turn Back: Echoes of African American Music unveils the profound legacy of Gospel, Blues, Jazz, and Soul artists who shaped the soundscape of American culture and used their music as instruments of resistance, identity, and representation.
Gospel, Blues, Jazz, and Soul embody the profound influence of African American music on culture and history. From the spiritual foundations and transformative movements of Gospel hymns to the revolutionary improvisations of Jazz, the Blues’ Southern roots rising from the Mississippi Delta, and Soul’s powerful amplification of the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements, these genres have defined the unique sound and undying spirit of a nation that continues to echo through contemporary Black music today.
The annual Friday Harbor Documentary Film Festival (FHFF) presents a four-day festival filled with exciting special events. It showcases screenings of 15 feature-length documentaries and blocks of short films across four venues in the heart of town. Films fall into three thematic categories: Tales from the Heart, Explorers & Adventures, and Things to Consider. Most screenings include a Q&A session with the filmmaker. The Young Filmmakers Showcase highlights the work of students aged 13-17 and 18-26 years.
Special events include:• The Opening Night Gala Honoring Filmmakers is a not-to-be-missed festive evening that celebrates all filmmakers in attendance! Following time to enjoy food and drinks, the program includes a video introducing our filmmakers and showcasing all of their films that will be screened at the festival. A highlight of the evening is presentation of the Andrew V. McLaglen Lifetime Achievement Award honoring a person who has made outstanding contributions to raising the general public’s awareness of important issues, either through activism or filmmaking. The evening concludes with viewing one of the festival’s most intriguing feature films.• The Filmmakers Forum - The relaxed, informal Filmmakers’ Forum provides you with the opportunity to learn about the art of filmmaking -- how films are planned, filmed, and produced – from the people who made this year’s films. Visiting filmmakers participate in a lively discussion of their experiences creating the fabulous documentaries being screened at the festival. Audience members are welcome to enter the conversation, asking questions or offering comments. • Awards Ceremony - Join us to celebrate the Festival’s best films as determined by votes from the audience! Audience Choice Awards are presented for Best Overall Feature, Best Explorers and Adventures, Best Things to Consider, Best Tales from the Heart, Best Short Film, and Best Young Filmmakers Showcase in 2 age groups. The Local Hero Award will honor a local person or organization who has made a significant impact on life in the San Juan Islands. The Best Overall Feature winner will be screened following the awards ceremony.
Plan now to visit Friday Harbor and enjoy all FHFF has to offer. See you at the movies!
Celebrate fall with a bounty of family-friendly thrills and spooky treats at Boo Bash, Oct. 25–31. Enjoy Halloween-inspired delights without the fright!
Boo Bash Activities:
• Explore fluorescent fun in our Glow Zone.• Wander the straw bale maze and take farm-stand photos.• Press apples into cider with Farmer Flower. (Weekend Only)• Watch exciting science demos with our favorite mad scientist – Dr. Science. (Weekend Only)• Show off your spook-tacular style and strut your stuff in the costume parade. (Weekend Only)• and so much more!
Live Jazz!
The festival honors the artistic edge and the rich history of the art form, celebrates Seattle’s jazz scene with performances, premieres, and special projects by esteemed resident artists alongside international masters.
This year’s lineup includes Christian McBride and Brad Mehldau, Brandee Younger, Arooj Aftab, Makaya McCraven,Ghost-Note, and many more.
Discover the joyous fun of the original swing dance, Lindy Hop! We start from the very beginning and make this class series accessible to everyone, regardless of experience. Get ready to have a whole lot of fun! Vaccination, Boosters, and Upgraded Masking Required.
Join Northwest Sinfonietta in October for music and merriment! A mini Oktoberfest opens the concert—local beers from Camp Colvos paired with Viennese favorites by Schubert and Johann Strauss II, the Waltz King. The party continues on the second half with the radiant Ascending Bird, followed by acclaimed clarinetist Kinan Azmeh performing his own, electrifying Suite for Improvisor and Orchestra.
🎷 Jazz Jam at Butter Notes Café 🎷📍 Butter Notes Café – Everett, WA🗓️ Every 1st & 3rd Sunday @ 2 PM
☕ Come sip, snack, and swing!
Join us for an afternoon of live jazz and spontaneous creativity at Butter Notes Café! Whether you’re here to play or just enjoy the vibes, you’re welcome.
🧇 Fresh croffles and warm coffee served all afternoon🎶 Open to all instruments, all levels💛 Donations encouraged to support local musicians and future sessions
Bring your instrument, your friends, or just your love for music!
The Girsky String Quartet and Xiaohui Yang will be performing music by Shostakovich and Beethoven.
The Jacobsen Series was established in 1984 in honor of Leonard Jacobsen, former chair and professor of Puget Sound’s piano department. Ticket sales support the Jacobsen Series Scholarship Fund, annual music scholarships awarded to outstanding student performers and scholars in the SAI international music organization. Thank you to our many patrons whose support has benefitted students and contributed to this successful series.
Crossing Borders by Jake Heggie (West Coast premiere) is a lyrical and deeply personal meditation on the physical and emotional journeys that define us—stories of migration, transformation, and the longing for home. The work gives voice to those navigating unfamiliar landscapes, both geographic and emotional. Sparks of Glory by Paul Schoenfield is a tribute to bold Holocaust defiance, based on four true stories and the accounts of the heroic deeds of people too modest to recognize their own heroism. Plus, works by two courageous composers who resisted Nazi oppression through their art. Guest artists: Catherine Cook, mezzo-soprano and Curt Branom, actor.
