PORT TOWNSEND — The Rhody Festival is celebrating 90 years this week.
“We’re very happy to have the community come out and support the 90th Rhody Festival,” festival president Lori Morris said.
The festival will include parades, shows, activities and meals from today through Sunday.
Tonight at 6 p.m., there will be Trike Races for children ranging from 1 to 6 years old. The races will take place on Water Street between Madison Street and Monroe Street. Registration will be at 5 p.m. on Water Street in front of City Hall.
“I can’t tell you how long it’s been going on, because I don’t know,” Morris said. “My kids are 30 (years old), at least 30 years.”
In addition to trike races, there will be strider races, Morris said. Striders have gotten popular in recent years, she said.
There will be a race for each age, from 1 to 6, and separate races for trikes and striders, she said.
“After each age division, we’ll move back the finish line a little further,” Morris said. “There will be prizes for the best decorated overall, and they will have an opportunity to be in the Grand Parade (Saturday).”
On Thursday at 5:30 p.m., the Pet Parade will proceed down Lawrence Street from Fillmore Street to Adams Street. Registration and assembly will begin at 4:30 p.m. at the corner of Harrison and Lawrence streets.
“People really love the Pet Parade,” Morris said. “There’s going to be dogs and cats and puppies, horses, chickens, rabbits, unusual pets, right off the top of my head.”
There are likely to be goats and cows as well, Morris said.
“They will decorate however they want to dress them up,” Morris said.
The best dressed or decorated animal, and their handler, will have an opportunity to walk in the Grand Parade as well.
Safeway will sponsor goodies, and there will be a photo booth at the end of the parade.
On Friday, the Kiddies Parade will take place at 4 p.m. and proceed on Lawrence Street from Tyler Street to Chetzemoka park. Registration will begin at 3 p.m. at the Port Townsend Community Center, 620 Tyler St.
The parade will culminate with an ice cream social at Chetzemoka park, sponsored by Bell Tower Brokers, Morris said.
There will be a hair and beard contest at 6 p.m. Registration will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the corner of Monroe Street and Water Street.
The most anticipated event of the evening is the Bed Races, Morris said. They will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Water Street, with teams racing from Monroe Street to Madison Street. Registration will begin at 5:30 p.m.
“There’s four runners, then somebody’s on the bed,” Morris said. “The person on the bed has to weigh at least 100 pounds.”
The event is a fan favorite, Morris said.
“East Jefferson Fire Rescue is the reigning champion,” she added.
The New Old Time Chautauqua (NOTC) will host a free community gathering at 7:30 p.m. at the American Legion building, 209 Monroe Street.
NOTC member Kristin Crowley said Dogs A Foot, located next to the American Legion building on the Water Street side, will stay open late. Affordable and portable food options can be carried next door to the community event, Crowley said.
On Saturday morning, from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., the Port Townsend Elks Club will host a pancake breakfast at its lodge, 555 Otto St.
The pancake breakfast, which will raise funds for the Rhody Festival, will cost $10, Morris said.
Registration for the Grand Parade will take place from 8 a.m. to noon at 2409 Jefferson St., according to the festival’s website. Applications to participate are closed. Details for registration can be found on the Rhody Fest’s event page.
A nine-hole round of golf, starting at 10 a.m., at the Port Townsend Golf Park, 1948 Blaine St., will raise funds for the festival, Morris said.
The Grand Parade will begin at 1 p.m. and go to about 3 p.m. Starting at Harrison Street, the parade will take Larwence Street to Monroe Street, where it will continue toward Water Street. The parade will end on Water Street and Quincy Street.
“Then the (Cake) Picnic after that,” Morris said.
The Cake Picnic will take place at the Pope Marine Park, on Water Street across from City Hall.
From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. will be a spaghetti dinner, costing $12, at the Elks Lodge.
At 6:30 p.m., doors will open at the American Legion Hall for NOTC’s “Big Show”, which will start at 7 p.m.
“It’s an old vaudeville kind of show,” Morris said.
Tickets, including fees, cost $21.75 for adults and $11.75 for kids, when they are purchased online at https://www.tickettailor.com/events/newoldtimechautauqua/1671330.
An 18-hole golf event will take place 10 a.m. at the golf park to raise funds for Rhody Fest.
The Jefferson Healthcare Rhody Run, which includes a 5-kilometer and a 10K event, will take place at Jefferson County Fairgrounds, 4907 Landes St., starting at 9 a.m.
Registration for the runs closes at 8 p.m. on Saturday. Runners may register at https://runsignup.com/Race/WA/PortTownsend/JeffersonHeatlhcareRhodyRun.
NOTC is planned to hold activities in the Tyler Street Plaza from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
In February, the Rhody Royalty were named with Taylor Frank, a senior at Chimacum High, being named as Rhody Queen. Lorelei Turner, a junior at Chimacum High, was named as Rhody Princess.
So far, the royalty have traveled to take part in parades in Puyallup, Tacoma and Wenachee, as well as the Sequim Irrigation Parade, Frank said.
Frank, who moved to Jefferson County last year from Indiana, said being Rhody Royalty has been a great opportunity to get to know the community as she settles in.
“It’s been a few months,” Taylor said. “It’s been really chaotic, really hectic, but it’s also been a lot of fun.”
Morris laughed.
“I think the best times are when Lori’s on your butt, ‘Get on the parade! We’re about to start the parade!’ We don’t get in the parade for another 10 to 15 minutes,” Taylor said, causing Morris to laugh again.
The festival is still taking volunteers, Morris said. Those interested in volunteering can email rhodyfest@gmail.com or go to the festival’s Facebook page.
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Reporter Elijah Sussman can be reached by email at elijah.sussman@sequimgazette.com.
