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Wurst Fest set for Sept. 20-22

St. Benedict's School in Wallingford will host its 20th annual "Great Wallingford Wurst Festival" from Friday through Sunday, Sept. 20-22.

The event features food, carnival rides, an alumni room, a kids' area, a beer garden, arts-and-crafts booths and live music.

The Wurst Festival kicks off at 5 p.m. on Friday. At 6:30 p.m., Mayor Greg Nickels will share his "Official First Bite of Wurst" with the "Great Wizard of Wurst." On Saturday, there will be a five-kilometer run/walk around Green Lake with weiner-dog mascots.

The Wurst Festival will open at 5 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. Saturday and the beer garden will stay open until 1 a.m. both nights. Sunday hours are noon-5 p.m. St. Benedict's is located at 4811 Wallingford Ave. N. Admission is free. For details, call 633-3375.

Oktoberfest, Sept. 20-22

The sixth annual Fremont Oktoberfest will be held Sept. 20-22. The event will include beer tasting, a street fair, kid's area and live music. There will also be a Texas Chain Saw Pumpkin Carving Contest on Sunday.

Oktoberfest is located at Fremont's Solstice Plaza and the Adobe surface parking lot underneath the Aurora Avenue Bridge at the southeast corner of N. 34th Street & and Fremont Avenue N. The event will be open on Friday from 4-11 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Admission to the street fair, kid's area and entertainment is free. Admission to the beer tasting garden is $18 advance purchase or $20 at the gate. For information, call 633-0422.

'Folk-Lite' exhibit at Between Cultures

An exhibit of folk art collected from several different countries is currently on display at Between Cultures Gallery (8809 Roosevelt Way NE) in the Maple Leaf neighborhood. Featured artists include Marlin Honhongva (Hopi), Antoni Kaminski (Poland), Olabayo Olaniyi (Yuorba), Thomas Pela (Hopi), the Linnares family (Mexico) and Johnson Antonio (Navajo). The gallery is open Tuesday-Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

CLO to perform 'Desert Song'

Civic Light Opera will open its 25th anniversary season with a production of "The Desert Song," Sept. 19-Oct. 12. "The Desert Song" is an operetta with book and lyrics by Otto Harbach, Frank Mandel and Oscar Hammerstein II, and music by Sigmund Romberg. The musical tells the tale of Margot Bonvalet, a Frenchwoman who is abducted to the Sahara Desert by the Red Shadow, a mysterious rebel leader. A swashbuckling romance ensues. CLO's production of "The Desert Song" is directed by David Maddux and stars Frederick Sederholm, Amanda Brown, Howard Stregack and Katie Norwood. CLO is located at the Jane Addams Summit School Auditorium at 11051 34th Ave. NE. For details, call 363-2809.

Licton Springs picnic

Licton Springs will hold its fifth annual free neighborhood picnic on Saturday, Sept. 14, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Licton Springs Park. Bring a potluck desert or fruit.

The event will feature free hot dogs and sodas donated by Larry's Market, music by the Anzanga Marimba Group, entertainment by The Bubbleman and a reading from Licton Spring pioneer Emily Inez Denny's book, "Blazing the Way," by Lauren L. Barber. Tours of park restoration sites will be given. A work party will proceed the picnic from 9 a.m.-noon. Licton Springs Park is located on Ashworth Avenue N. between N. 96th and N. 97th Street. For details, call Liz Kearns at 525-5243.

NW Boychoir auditions

The Northwest Boychoir will hold auditions for new members on Saturday, Oct. 5, in the University District. Boys between the ages of six and nine are eligible and no prior musical training is required. Boys, 10 years old or older, with significant choral or other musical training, are also invited to audition. Choir members generally pay tuition and travel fees to the organization, however, financial aid is available for those who qualify. Founded in 1974, the Northwest Boychoir draws its membership from more than 50 elementary and junior high schools throughout Greater Seattle. The group performs frequently, both locally and across the country, and has toured in Europe, Asia and the South Pacific. For an appointment, call 524-3234.

Fremonster authors cookbook

A new book called "The Bold Vegetarian Chef," authored by Fremont resident Ken Charney, hit store shelves in July.

This the first book for Charney, 41, who works as an assistant deli manager at the West Seattle PCC. His writings and recipes have been published in Veggie Life and Vegetarian Times. He has also appeared on the television shows KCTS Cooks and Northwest Afternoon.

Charney said his goal in writing the book was to provide readers with gourmet quality recipes as well as with information they might not find elsewhere such as tips on buying produce and working with tofu.

Charney will sign copies of his book on Thursday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. at the University of Washington Bookstore, located at 4326 University Way NE.