This could be one of the biggest weekends of the year in Kitsap County.

The best 13-year-old Babe Ruth baseball players in the United States are playing in the Babe Ruth World Series at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds’ Gene Lobe Fields.

The Poulsbo Arts Festival is Aug. 17-19 at Poulsbo’s Muriel Iverson Williams Waterfront Park.

Chief Seattle Days, the annual celebration of Suquamish culture, is Aug. 17-20, with a parade, canoe races, a pow wow, and sports contests. The Silverdale 3-on-3 basketball tournament, featuring Utah Jazz small forward Marvin Williams of Bremerton.

The Kitsap County Fair and Stampede is Aug. 22-26.

Pick your fun (or enjoy as many experiences as you can). Here’s a rundown on the events.

Babe Ruth World Series
The Babe Ruth World Series for 13-year-old players began Aug. 15 and continues through Aug. 22, at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds’ Gene Lobe Fields. Poulsbo is the host city of the series, and players from teams in nine states are guests of local families.

Cities and states represented: Bryant, Ark.; Tri-Valley, Calif.; Meridian, Idaho; Schererville, Ind.; Westfield, Mass.; Waite Park, Minn.; Monroe Township, N.J.; Greenville, N.C.; and, from Washington, Burlington and Kitsap.

The host team, the Kitsap County All-Stars, played Bryant, Ark., Aug. 15 and Waite Park, Minn. Aug. 16; results were not available by Kitsap Week’s deadline. But you can still catch some great Babe Ruth action when Kitsap meets Westfield, Mass., Aug. 17, 7 p.m.; and Meridian, Idaho, Aug. 18, 7 p.m.

Get a sneak peek at the official series program, published by the North Kitsap Herald, at NorthKitsapHerald.com (click on the World Series button on the top right of the page). You can also get the program at the field.

Chief Seattle Days
The first Chief Seattle Days was held 1911 to honor the famous Suquamish leader Seattle, the first signer of the Treaty of Point Elliott of 1855 and namesake of the city.

Many of the same activities held in 1911 are held today: A memorial service at Chief Seattle’s gravesite, a traditional salmon bake, canoe races, a pow wow, and sports contests.

Chief Seattle Days is open to the public; most events take place in downtown Suquamish in and around the house of Awakened Culture. Times are approximate and subject to change.

Aug. 17, canoes are scheduled to arrive at 3 p.m. The Chief Seattle Days Royalty Pageant follows at 3:30 p.m. A co-ed softball tournament begins at 5 p.m. at the ball fields, 5303 NE Totten Road. Back at the House of Awakened Culture, Canoe Journey honoring takes place at 5 p.m., followed by a Coastal Jam.

Aug. 18, the Chief Seattle Memorial Service begins at 9 a.m. at the Suquamish Cemetery on NE South Street. The co-ed softball tournament resumes at 9 a.m. Chief Seattle Days Parade begins at 10 a.m. Salmon dinner sales and the war canoe races begin at noon. Powwow competition starts at 1 p.m. (host drum will be provided by the Black Lodge Singers, Native American Music Award winner for Best Pow Wow Album and Grammy Award nominee in 2004). An Aztec dance group performs at 5 p.m. during dinner.

Aug. 19, the Chief Seattle Days 5K Run/Walk begins at 10 a.m.; the Elders Run begins at 10:30 in the House of Awakened Culture. Salmon dinner sales, war canoe races, and the Pow Wow Grant Entry begin at noon.

Free general parking is available in the lot adjacent to the House of Awakened Culture and at the Tribal Administration Offices on Suquamish Way.

Shuttles will operate between the event grounds and the Clearwater Casino Resort parking garage every 15 -20 minutes, from 5-11 p.m. on day one, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on day two, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on day three.

Poulsbo Arts Festival
The Poulsbo Arts Festival is Aug. 17-19 at Poulsbo’s Muriel Iverson Williams Waterfront Park. Hours are Aug. 17, noon to 6 p.m.; Aug. 18, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Aug. 19, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The festival includes arts and crafts booths, children’s activities, dance and live music. The festival is presented by the Cultural Arts Foundation Northwest of Poulsbo.

You’ll meet more than 30 prominent artists working in copper, glass, jewelry, hand-dyed clothing, photography, porcelain tile, stone sculpture, textiles, and watercolor. Hey, massage therapy is considered an art; so is candy and chocolate making. Those mediums will be represented as well.

One of the spotlight artists is Chantal Griffis, a master seamstress and jewelry maker known for her elaborate bead work. Her beaded jewelry has been recognized in local and regional publications — and in a book in Brussels, Belgium — and a beaded Christmas ornament she created was displayed on the Christmas tree in the White House.

“A growing love of textile arts was the motivation for my education and training as a working master seamstress,” Griffis wrote on a studio tour website. “As beading became a focus for my artistic expression, woven jewelry became my muse — an art form where techniques of sewing and the artistry of beading are beautifully united with pattern and design. As an artist, my hope is that those who view my work will see within these designs an interpretation of the beauty I see in the world around me.”

The Cultural Arts Foundation promotes dance, film, music, painting, sculpture, theater and writing. It awards grants to assist adults in developing their art skills and knowledge. The foundation also presents scholarships to students in first- through eighth-grade to help them develop their art skills and knowledge. The grants and scholarships may be applied toward art education, art workshops and other art-related avenues that assist in artistic development.

For more information about the foundation and the Poulsbo Arts Festival, visit cafnw.org.

Silverdale 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament
The Silverdale Shootout 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament was co-founded by Mark Stevens and Chris Koebelin as a fun, family oriented sports event.

Now in its sixth year, the event draws participants of all ages, from fourth-grade to adult. This year’s event is Aug. 18 and 19 at Kitsap Mall in Silverdale.

The Silverdale Shootout was first held six years ago at the Silverdale Beach Hotel and continued to call the hotel its home until 2010. In 2011, the event — having outgrown the hotel venue — moved to Old Town Silverdale while scouting out a new permanent home. This year marks the Shootout’s first time in its new, permanent location at the Kitsap Mall.

Event organizers say Kitsap Mall is ideal because of its central location, ample parking and large, smooth paved area for the courts.

“Working with the mall staff has been terrific and we’re excited to be at our new location” Stevens said.

New to the event this year is a partnership with Marvin Williams, NBA player and Bremerton native. Event producers are working with Williams, who has played for the Atlanta Hawks and is now a small forward for the Utah Jazz, to help raise funds for the Marvin Williams Family Center — a local nonprofit dedicated to working with area youth.

Williams will sign autographs both days and will present awards to, and take photographs with, the winning teams.

The Shootout consists of three games on Aug. 18 and single-elimination bracket competition on Aug. 19. In addition, players can compete in a 3-point contest and a slam dunk contest.

The Shootout features a beer garden presented by Hale’s Ales. Other food and beverage vendors will be represented. Other vendors include Costco, Hawaiian Shaved Ice, Kettle Corn, and Legend Harley-Davidson of Silverdale.

Kitsap County Fair & Stampede
Top 40 country music artist Jerrod Niemann (www.jerrodniemannofficial.com) headlines at the Kitsap County Fair & Stampede Aug. 23. The concert, on the Geico Concert Stage, is free with fair admission.

This year’s county fair begins Aug. 22 and continues through Aug. 26.

Some highlights:
— Xtreme Bulls Rodeo, Aug. 22, 7 p.m.; and the PRCA Rodeo, Aug. 24 and 25, 7 p.m. 
— Four Xtreme Motocross Stunt Shows by Brigade Freestyle Motocross on Aug. 26. Free with fair admission.
— Dragon Steps, a fire-breathing show, Aug. 26.— Hypnotist Kevin Wolfe, daily.
— Matt Baker’s Comedy Stunt Show, daily.
— Enjoy a variety of Naval Base Kitsap bands, including Passages, daily at the Bell.
— Amusements include carnival rides, camel and pony rides, and a zip line.
— Exhibits galore and the customary array of tasty fair food. 
— Contests: Celebrity pie-eating contest, hot dog eating contest, Diaper Derby, racing pigs, the Longest Tongue Contest, and the Best Tattoo Contest.

Visit www.kitsapgov.com/parks/Fairgrounds/pages/Fair_Stampede.htm to see how to enter your art, craft or crop in this year’s fair.