SEQUIM — The tagline for the 130th year of the Sequim Irrigation Festival is “Where History Flows and Futures Grow.”
The festival is set for May 2-10.
Michelle Rhodes, the festival’s new executive director, shared the new slogan along with the festival’s storyline and Sherry Scharschmidt’s new logo on Oct. 12.
Rhodes and about 65 people attended the unveiling in the Oasis Bar and Grill that featured giveaways from the festival and lunch sponsored by the restaurant.
The tagline is meant to honor the community and festival’s past along with volunteers’ efforts to invest in the future and promote Sequim, Rhodes said.
The festival started with a picnic on May 1, 1896, after D.R. Callen — later dubbed “Crazy Callen” — and three other men developed and implemented the innovative concept a year prior to irrigate Sequim by diverting Dungeness River water via gravity-driven ditches. Since then, it’s grown to feature a grand parade, family fun days, a logging show and more.
The festival continues to be all-volunteer, and Washington’s oldest and most continuous-running festival.
Next year’s festivities will begin Feb. 22 with the royalty pageant at Sequim High School, followed by the festival’s kickoff dinner and float reveal on March 22 at 7 Cedars Casino.
This year’s royalty court has attended 60 events, including 11 parades, since February, and will next appear at the Sequim Prairie Grange’s Trunk or Treat event on Saturday, and Sequim’s Hometown Holidays on Nov. 30 in downtown Sequim.
Rhodes, who took over for Vickie Maples as festival director, has held a number of roles with the organization since she started eight years ago. She said festival officials look to try new efforts to raise awareness, including a “Where’s Sid (Sequim Irrigation Dude)?” yard sign promotion.
They continue to seek new volunteers for day-of events and ongoing support, along with sponsorships, Rhodes said.
Those interested can email info@irrigation festival.com, visit irrigation festival.com or facebook.com/SequimIrrigationFestival.
