ocean shores convention center

We arrived into town to visit family this weekend while a NA convention was taking place. I am all for people getting their lives together, but apparently convention attendees did not think non attendees should be allowed in town! It was so strange. We did meet 3 nice younger attendees at our hotel but that was it. We smiled and said hi to people and we were looked at like we were invaders! Took my son the the ice cream parlor by convention center and had attendees try to push in in front of us and try to stare us down. Really. Wow.

The craft fair was a real suprise and very interesting. The artistisans amaze me with the thing they design. I did buy a few Christmas gifts there as they were so unique.

The OS Convention Center is a pretty mundane, uninspired gathering spot - it is, however, clean and well kept (at considerable expense). It's basically a big box of a facility without much architectural appeal or personality, but it gets the job done. Be aware that pets are NOT allowed in the Convention Center which makes it difficult to attend events in the Summer months when it's too hot to leave them in the car. Before retiring and moving to Ocean Shores we had to pass on numerous events for this very reason. The volunteer staffed Visitor's Center is housed under the same roof and can be a wealth of information for visitor and local alike.

Temp. 59-62 degrees and sunny----all services, horses, bicycles, scooters, camp groundsin use---most if not all hotels booked-up through Monday---so, why were so few folks at thearts and crafts and antiques show? Noticeably, eight or more booths fewer than last yearin bad weather---American Volksswalkers event at Lions Den probably drew three hundredor more---for Saturday through Monday---Lions had a lunch counter with chilli, dogs, cinnamonrolls, etc.etc. and tables to sit around and chat---One vendor was pushing Palmer & Wirfsevents in Puyallup and Clark County; so, why isn't Palmer & Wirfs vendors supportingOcean Shores??? This is a great facility but year after year attendance dwindles even in bestweather and temps for this event. I drove 180 miles to attend this and other events, booked four nights at a local motel, spent hundreds in food and sundries only to be disappointedby this event....makes one reconsider whether to return next year doesn't it? Last year there was a Philatelist, a trailer show, a violin refurbisher, three or four actual antique vendors,in addition to the usual plethora of cosmetic jewelry, knives, some books, and somekitchen apparel---a Reidel vendor was also there---Oh welllllll!!!

What a fabulous place for a gathering. The crab was wonderful and plentiful. Past co-workers were fun to visit with and laugh with. The convention center is beautiful.

This location becomes the focal point of Ocean Shores throughout the year as it hosts everything from art shows to motorcycle rallies to Kiwanis Children Community Christmas events.It is nice, but can be very costly to rent space during these events. Make sure you stop by for fliers and brochures for the local area if you are new to town.

Second year visiting to see this event lasting two days---Majority of vendors showing mostly costume jewelry--special vendor showed Viola/Cello restored units for sale, two Numismatists, one Philatelist, Three or four small ceramic vendors dealing with early 20th Century items--three or four maybe more actual antique and lamp dealers but small pickings, some WWI items, a rack of flour sack or embroidered items,---last year three large rooms of vendors, this year only one room and about 45 vendors---A Curley fry wagon out front, Lions chilli and dogs inside---local bakery had a nice offering---no other food items offered unless one went back to the restaurants. To visit here from more than 30 miles is perhaps OK, but for this event and travelingovernight for two to three hours at best is not a good experience. $6 entry fee for two days is same as the Palmer Wirffs 450 vendor events. Attempted to talk with Friends of Ocean Shores Library but was rebuffed or flat out ignored. Parking is great--Restrooms are great---booths and greeters were great in the entry hall---not so great inside with the vendors.