PORT TOWNSEND— The Rhododendron Festival touches familiar bases every year, but differences in royalty set each festival apart.
“This is a really great bunch of girls,” said Brandi Hamon, the festival secretary.
“I know I say that every year, but these are really shy girls who aren’t used to being in the spotlight. They really stepped out of their comfort zone.”
The 81st annual Rhody festival begins Monday with members of the royal court imprinting their hands in concrete at the Rhododendron Centennial Gardens and culminates Saturday with the Grand Parade and Cake Picnic.
As of Friday, 103 floats had signed up for the parade, but there could be more next weekend, according to Past President Rita Hubbard.
“Every year, people get excited about the parade,” Hubbard said.
“It’s a lot of fun to see people setting their chairs along the parade route and to see how many people come home for Rhody.”
Hubbard said the festival is more about the locals than the tourists, although like any big event, all the hotel rooms are sold out for the weekend.
Grand Parade
The parade will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Port Townsend Fire Station, 701 Harrison St., travel down Lawrence Street then turn right on Monroe Street and right again on Water Street and Quincy Street.
The parade usually takes about two hours from start to finish, Hubbard said.
The Grand Parade will be preceded by the Running of the Balls, a Sunrise Rotary fundraiser beginning at Lawrence and Monroe streets.
The parade will be followed by the Cake Picnic, a 4-year-old tradition that gives out 2,000 pieces of cake at Pope Marine Park.
The picnic will feature a dance party hosted by local DJ Captain Peacock, as well as a choreographed flash mob performance by local dance studios.
Following the dance party, the Unexpected Brass Band will parade onto the Pope Marine Park lawn for a tug-of-war match.
This year’s cake flavors are still under wraps, according to picnic organizer Danny Milholland, but the cakes will be mostly organic, and gluten-free options will be offered.
Rhody Royalty
This year’s Rhody Royalty consists of Queen Fiona Shaffer, 16; Princesses Kayla Calhoun and Morgan Wilford, both 17; and Princess Eryn Reierson, 16, in the newly created ambassador position.
Rhody traditionally names three people as royalty, but only four young women applied this year.
This prompted the creation of the ambassador position
“We are excited that we were able to name an ambassador this year,” Hamon said.
“This is something we’ve wanted to do for some time.”
All the candidates are juniors, an advantage over past royal courts because they will be available for activities during the next school year.
The summer is always the busiest time for royalty because of parades across the state, but there are some activities that occur during the school year.
This year’s royalty will serve until March when a new group is selected.
Variety of events
Between Monday’s handprints and Saturday’s grand finale, the week will be packed with events.
Here is a schedule:
■ Trike Race — 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday on Water Street from Madison Street to Monroe Street.
■ Pet Parade — 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, beginning at the Port Townsend Fire Station, 701 Harrison St., and heading down Lawrence Street. Registration begins at 3:30 p.m., with judging at 4 p.m.
■ Carnival — Memorial Field, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and noon to 9 p.m. Saturday.
■ Kiddies Parade — 3:30 p.m. Friday beginning at Lawrence and Quincy streets and heading downtown on Monroe Street. Registration begins at 2 p.m. and judging at 3 p.m.
■ Hair and Beard Contest — 5:30 p.m. Friday on Water Street in front of the American Legion Hall, 209 Monroe St. Registration at 5:15 p.m.
■ Bed Races — 6:30 p.m. Friday on Water Street in front of the American Legion Hall. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. and judging is at 6 p.m.
■ Elks Club breakfast — 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday at 555 Otto St.
■ Elks Club Spaghetti Feed — 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, 555 Otto St.
■ Jim Caldwell Memorial Open Golf Tournament — 8 a.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday at the Port Townsend Golf Course, 1948 Blaine St.
■ Rhody Run — 11 a.m. Sunday at Fort Worden State Park.
Where are the dudes?
Missing from this year’s schedule is the “Dude Looks Like a Lady” show, which for six years included local men dancing in drag in an effort to raise money for the Rhody Scholarship Fund.
Coronation organizer Christy Spencer said the event drew a lot of attention but didn’t raise enough money.
“We broke even, so there was nothing left for the scholarships,” she said.
Hamon attributed the event’s lack of success to scheduling, with competing events diluting its drawing power.
Rhody’s largest fundraiser will now be a softball tournament, scheduled for the last weekend in August, Hamon said.
For more information, go to www.rhodyfestival.org.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
