Washington Lavender Festival
Where: 965 Finn Hall Road, Port Angeles (halfway between Sequim, Port Angeles)
Cost: Free to attend
Includes: Vendors, food, events, U-pick lavender, more daily
Full details: Visit facebook.com/walavenderfestival or www.georgewashingtoninn.com
Note: Sign-up for the Inn’s annual tea today through Sunday through the inn’s website. Fees apply.
More info: Call 360-452-4877 or visit walavender.com
PORT ANGELES — So much is happening during Sequim Lavender Weekend that Dan and Janet Abbott, co-owners of Washington Lavender Farm and George Washington Inn, want to extend the festival experience for visitors even more.
That’s why for the second year they’ve extended their Washington Lavender Festival to 10 days, set for today through July 21 at 965 Finn Hall Road.
“We were told the year before [we extended the festival] that it took people four hours to get here from the Hood Canal Bridge [due to traffic],” Janet Abbott said.
“Lavender is not necessarily just on one weekend. Lavender is an all-summer experience and we wanted to allow them a festival-like experience on more than one weekend.”
Some of the farm’s many vendors stay all 10 days, some for one weekend or some both, she said.
“We may not have had quite as many people the first weekend as the second, but our vendors and visitors loved it,” she said.
The Abbotts open their lavender U-pick the first weekend of their festival today along with an array of activities such as crafts, food such as lavender ice cream and speakers — including lavender expert Victor Gonzalez at 1 p.m. Saturday.
The Inn hosts an Afternoon Tea at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. today through Sunday, with spots available through the festival’s website. Fees apply and can be paid online or if seats are available, on a first-come, first-served basis.
Events and many vendors carry through the week into Sequim Lavender Weekend, July 19-21, with beekeeping demonstrations and crafts for all-ages.
Steve Lyon, director of field research, plant breeder and agronomist with the Washington State University Bread Lab, returns to speak about growing heritage grains and using them with culinary lavender for baking.
Janet Abbott said the farm features more than 5,000 lavender plants with some planted more than 10 years ago. They use Folgate lavender and royal velvet lavender for cooking in the inn while the farm’s shop, which opened in 2011, features several items from the farm’s lavender ranging from cooking additives to lotions.
Admission to the farm is free during the festival and all summer except during the Northwest Colonial Festival, Aug. 8-11.
Washington Lavender Festival begins a five-week streak for the Abbotts where they host a number of events starting with their festival, followed by the Hymn Sing by the Sea on July 27, the Tour de Lavender on Aug. 3 and the Colonial Festival.
For more information about the farm/inn’s events, visit www.facebook. com/walavenderfestival, walavender.com, or george washingtoninn.com.
For more information about Sequim lavender farms, visit sequim lavender.org.
For more about Sequim Lavender Weekend, visit visitsunnysequim.com/166/Lavender-Weekend.
