March 19, 2019

On April 20, the Washington Coast Clean-up and 6th Annual River & Ocean Film Festival combine to explore and protect the Olympic Peninsula’s ecological wonders.

Each spring, hundreds of volunteers fan out along Washington’s outer coast and the Strait of Juan de Fuca for RainFest and the Washington Coast Clean-up. They scour more than 50 beaches for washed-up debris and other trash that can poison or choke marine organisms. It’s not only a good deed but a fun day at the beach, including barbecues at several of the clean-up locations.

Following this year’s clean-up, volunteers can join other residents and visitors in Forks for a special movie night. Everyone who cherishes, enjoys or wants to learn about the Olympic Peninsula is invited to attend the 6th annual River & Ocean Film Festival at the Rainforest Arts Center.

“The River & Ocean Film Festival has become an integral part of Forks’ Annual RainFest celebration, bringing together locals and participants in CoastSaver’s Washington Coastal Cleanup,” says Jill Silver, a member of the North Pacific Coast Marine Resources Committee, which organized the festival. “It’s been wonderful to see so many people over the years enjoying beautiful and inspiring films about a wide range of coastal and freshwater environments, and the experiences of the people living and working in them.”

The festival features short films that highlight the beauty and opportunities to be found on the “wet side” of the Olympic Peninsula while raising awareness of the threats facing its aquatic life and human communities. Admission is free and open to all ages; all films are family-friendly. Judges are now screening submissions to select the films that will screen at this year’s festival. See past year’s selected films here.

Festival screenings will start at 7:00 p.m. on April 20, 2019 at the Rainforest and Arts Center at 25 North Forks Avenue, Forks, WA.

The event is sponsored by the North Pacific Coast Marine Resources Committee, the City of Forks, Washington Sea Grant, North Pacific Coast Lead Entity, Rainforest Council for the Arts, Pacific Coast Salmon Coalition, West Olympic Council for the Arts, and Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary.

To join a beach cleanup or enjoy the film festival, just show up!