2023 Port Townsend Victorian Festival “Memories of the Seashore”

 

This year’s theme for the Port Townsend Victorian Festival in Washington, held on April 28-30, was “On the Tide”, relating to the seafaring history to the town. I waited this time to come up with a theme for the fashion show until they had decided on that. I chose “Memories of the Seashore”, and asked all the past models to come up with something that related to the sea, and in the time periods of 1830-1910. The organizers also put out a request to the local townsfolk for the same to be in the show, as we’re trying to have them more involved in the fashion show. The focus would be outfits pertaining to the sea and seaside, such as summertime, nautical, stripes, polka dots, picnics, and bathing suits. But I can usually work whatever they're wearing into a story for it.     

In January, once the themes were decided, some of us started making our hotel reservations there as we all have our favorite places to stay, and rooms fill up fast. Mine is The Swan Hotel, one of the historic buildings in town. It’s at the far end of Water St, which is the main street of downtown, and just across the street from the American Legion Hall where many of the festival events occur, including our fashion show. How convenient is that?  Its very cottage-y looking and is a nice cozy place to relax. There’s even an outside deck where we can enjoy the views of the harbor.

In the following months, I was working with our regular models and finding out what they wanted to make to wear, or pull from their wardrobe. I already had mine half done, when I started it a few years ago in 2020 to wear, but was delayed by you-know-what. My previous blog told all about its construction, and I actually finished it a few weeks before I was leaving so I could focus on writing the fashion show narratives. I reused a previously trimmed hat by removing just the red cherries, and adding hot pink flowers to tie it into my dress. 

I needed as much time as possible to write the narratives because it seemed like every day someone new was being added to the list. We had a cut off date of March 1 for adding models, and actually had to do it sooner because we were up to 26 of them! That’s almost double what I usually do! I knew we might lose a few later, which we did lose two in the last couple weeks. But it was still going to be a big show.

An interesting note; we had a young lady show up at the door shortly before the show, dressed in a black Edwardian outfit, asking if she could be in the show. Sadly, it was too late, but we did give her contact information for next year.

Other than the downtown and uptown walks and visits to historic homes in the area, there were a couple presentations put on at the American Legion Hall on Saturday. There were a couple on Sunday morning too. I stopped in to listen to “How Bees Arrived in America” (yes, it WAS interesting), and an update to the renovations one homeowner was doing to his Victorian house. I’m always fascinated by those, and remember my dreams of doing the same. Afterwards, while the room was being set up for the fashion show with the temporary walls on one side for our “backstage area”, I helped at the desk at the front door directing people where they could buy tickets or rent costumes across the street. Our models started arriving, and we gave some of them a couple last minute tips, and let the young girls do some practice walks down the room. Our show is on the main floor, not the stage, and chairs are set up along both sides of the room.  It’s a very long room, so there’s lots of space and time to walk. I think there was 105 attendees to the show. (Next photo by Peninsula Daily News)

Just before our show, there was a presentation on some antique dresses displayed up on the stage, along with a slideshow, by Tracy Wirta & Julie Cheetham.

While we all were waiting backstage for our turn in the fashion show, I took my usual candid photos of everyone, because sometimes we don’t get any of us. But this year there were a couple photographers in the Hall, including one from Peninsula Daily News, and we’re waiting for those to show up. 

Our final model in the show portrayed Captain Edward Smith of the Titanic, where he was advertising the latest and greatest unsinkable ship about to embark on its maiden voyage, and was offering a free ticket to a lucky winner in the audience. We had already picked someone ahead of time, so she played along with him.

After the show, most of the models did a promenade down Water Street, along with any of the attendees in their costumes too. It was a beautiful sunny day, about 67d, and was perfect for photos.

Save the date for next year! I’ve offered to do my two presentations then on Accessories: 1800-1850 & 1850-1900, and got an enthusiastic response to that. 

The next day 14 of us attended one of the afternoon teas at The Old Consulate Inn, a beautiful B&B up on the hill. We totally filled up their 1pm sitting.

While we waiting outside, we took the opportunity to take photos of each other in the beautifully landscaped gardens and on the porch. I wore my 1870s purple floral dress. 

The indoors was a delight too! Agnes even played the piano for us. 

The room we were served in was also so beautiful!  It felt very warm and inviting, and the food & tea served was delicious! 

Unfortunately, I forgot to pass my camera around, so only took some of the opposite side of our table.

I love that each year a couple of the historic homes host fundraising teas for the festival, but sadly we can only go to one of them each year. It always makes a special ending to my trip to Port Townsend, and yet another chance to wear our costumes to. 

*I'll write up a new blog post when more photos come in from our show and the festival.