CLINTON — It’s going to be a wild time in Clinton this Memorial Day weekend.
The third Clinton Days celebration begins today and continues until 10 p.m. Monday.
Clinton Days is a yearly celebration that honors the history of Clinton, a memorial event as well as a way to say hello to the tourist season.
Each year the town holds a big party that includes a variety of activities beginning with a history hunt and extending to live music from local entertainers, wood carving demonstrations, storytelling, barbecues, a memorial service and a historical presentation from the South Whidbey Historical Society.
From 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday night, organizers will stage a barbecue from Chef Sheila Sebree and listen to music from the Rural Characters in a benefit to support the newly refurbished Clinton Community Hall.
Dancing will follow, and “The Randy Bradley Band” will play from 4 to 6 p.m.
Tickets will be available at the door.
Later that evening, organizers plan an evening of swing, salsa, waltz and more with Walter Dill and daughters, along with Janice Eklund, from 7:30 to 11 p.m. at the community hall.
A dance workshop from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. will focus on swing from the “American Bandstand” TV Show.
On Sunday, Rockhoppers will be hosting breakfast and will open at 7 a.m. Sunday, May 27. A live “Life” game follows at 10 a.m. (weather permitting), and a teddy bear tea will be held at 1 p.m.
Erik Christensen will be entertaining at 3 p.m.
Children of all ages are invited to experience circus fun in a series of classes in Clinton from 10 a.m. to noon on Sunday. Learn stiltwalking, trapeze, aerial fabric, trampoline, giant swing, clowning, costumes and more.
As with most celebrations, each year the Clinton Days event has grown.
This year organizers have expanded it to include a presentation from the Society of Creative Anachronism, a slide and bouncy ride for the kids, games and music.
Two days of tunes will be presented at Dan Porter Park and the wood carvers will be hewing away at the Clinton Community Hall.
Rockhoppers welcomes the Dandelion Greens again at 4 p.m. Monday, May 28.
The cafe will wind up Clinton Days with its Monday Night “Go” and “chess” night.
The hope is to attract island visitors to stop in Clinton and experience what the town has to offer.