Can you bark like a large, whiskered marine mammal?
How are your growls and roars?
We love our sea lions on the North Coast, which is why it will be great theater to hear humans of all ages attempt to impersonate the animals’ various vocalizations.
The noisy tribute to our flippered friends is slated for Thursday, July 24. It’s called the Sea Lion Calling Contest – part of this year’s Hot Summer Night party put on by the Astoria Downtown Historic District Association.
Colleen Holdar, the district’s events and marketing manager, came up with the idea after someone suggested something similar involving seagulls.
“I feel like sea lions are much more of an Astoria thing than seagulls,” she said.
Buoy Beer is hosting the free event at its Duane Street taproom patio from 7 to 7:30 p.m. There will be youth and adult categories, and prize packages for the best “callers.”
Simply sign up prior to the event. Sea Lion Face Paint (of course) will be on hand to get contestants in the right frame of mind.
We all know that California sea lions communicate with gusto. In Astoria, their barks can be heard inside homes a mile from the docks lining the Columbia River.
Experts say sea lions are among the world’s most social and playful creatures, which is no surprise to those of us who enjoy watching them pile together, spooning in great snoring heaps.
Males bark and growl to defend and establish territory (and recruit females for their harems). Females communicate in loud chirps and clicks – unique sound sequences that their pups instinctively know at birth.
The animals issue blaring, trumpet-like sounds when the colony is in danger, like when a hungry orca comes around. When feeling threatened, sea lions are also capable of a frightening roar, much like, well, a lion.
That’s a whole lotta sounds to master in a short amount of time. But, hey, consider it a challenge.
Panels of judges will decide the best impersonators.
Hot Summer Night, in its second year, is a party thrown for locals that spans the entire downtown, with scores of businesses encouraged to stay open late and join the fun with pop-up events.
Immediately after the sea lion contest, there’s a drinking party disguised as a run.
“All you have to do is cross the street to win!” the promotional flier states.
The Too Hot to Trot Zero K sponsored by Bridge & Tunnel bottleshop/taproom is a fundraiser for the historic district and its beautification and preservation projects.
Pre-registration is $25, which comes with a T-shirt and a beer (or non-alcoholic beverage). To purchase, visit www.astoriadowntown.com.
During the festivities, classic hits station KRKZ will be broadcasting from a closed-off section of Duane Street between 13th and 14th streets. There will be live music on the Buoy patio from 8-9 p.m.
“We’re really trying to make this a community event,” Holdar said. “It’s going to be a good time – get some whimsy and silliness into people’s lives.”
