SEQUIM — All the fun you can have for five bucks per carload. That’s one unofficial motto for this weekend’s Olympic Peninsula Air Affaire, going into its fourth year at Sequim Valley Airport.
Airplanes, balloons and classic cars will fill the airport at 468 Dorothy Hunt Lane and Sequim’s skies from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
The show began in 2013 as a celebration for the city’s centennial and Sequim Valley Airport’s 30th year, and has continued each year.
Organizers have a few new activities for visitors this year, including helicopter rides by Atomic Helicopters both days for an additional fee. The business offered similar rides during Sequim Lavender Weekend.
Saturday also will feature a safety fair with first responders on scene including those from Clallam County Fire District No. 3.
There will be an array of flyers on scene, too, with new and antique planes, experimental planes, a paraglider and remote-controlled planes.
“We never know who is going to show up,” co-organizer Kelly Jo Hill said.
“It’s a fly-in, so there are always surprises,” added co-organizer Emily Westcott.
Captain Crystal Stout will offer hot air balloon rides at 7 a.m. each day.
Depending on weather, she’ll turn one balloon on its side for a sockhop/bouncehouse from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days, with donations going to the Dream Catcher Balloon Program, which offers flights for mentally and physically impaired people.
Visitors can feel the wind soar, play beachball or take in the sights from inside the balloon.
She’ll also offer tethered rides for $10 for the program starting at 9 a.m. daily.
Visitors can return to the airport Saturday at dusk to see hot air balloons rise up and light up the sky with a night glow.
Visitors are encouraged to bring flashlights for nighttime parking. The evening event is weather-dependent.
Mike and Marilyn Mason of the West Coast Spin Doctors will return in the afternoon both days to demonstrate wing walking in their 1943 Stearman.
They remain the only wing walking school in the world, and people come from all over to learn the sport.
The Sequim RC Aeronauts and Port Angeles’ Olympic RC Modelers will hold a fundraiser for Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County on Saturday on the northeast side of the airport, performing tricks and showing their flying skills.
They’ll be joined by the Tri-Area R/C fliers out of Chimacum and other guests.
Children’s activities will include paper airplane racing.
The first 100 will get free wooden planes.
The car show returns, too, with awards offered Saturday and free entry Sunday to the event for those participating the day before.
Organizers hope the weather holds out, unlike last year. An unexpected sudden windstorm forced event organizers to bring the Saturday activities to an early close.
This year, the forecast is for Saturday to be clear, but it might rain Sunday. However, organizers said because of Sequim’s blue hole, pilots often opt to come to Sequim.
For more information, visit www.olympicpeninsulaairaffaire.com.
Radio-controlled planes will fill the northeast corner of Sequim Valley Airport for the Olympic Peninsula Air Affaire. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Olympic Peninsula Air Affaire co-organizer Emily Westcott waves to Coast Guardsmen as they do a fly-by at last year’s Air Affaire. Westcott hopes the Coast Guard helicopter stationed on Ediz Hook returns this year for a touch-and-go. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
