SEQUIM — As the Sequim Irrigation Festival approaches its 129th year in May, organizers say they’re expanding the Family Fun Day once again to two days of free events to offset the continued unavailability of a carnival.
Organizers made the announcement last week via the festival’s Facebook page: “After an extensive search and reaching out to several carnivals, we were unsuccessful locating a company that is able to return to Sequim.
“Unfortunately, they are still feeling the staffing effects from COVID’s impact on their businesses.”
The carnival was a popular attraction for locals through 2019, and an important money-maker for the festival’s operations.
Festival executive director Vickie Maples said it was typically the second biggest fundraiser for the festival after its annual Kickoff Dinner and Auction — slated for 5 p.m. Saturday, March 23, at 7 Cedars Casino, with the royalty float unveiling at 4:45 p.m.
Maples said organizers made the carnival announcement because a permit in the City of Sequim is required 60 days before an event, and they were nearing that date without any positive responses from vendors.
Volunteer Stephen Rosales said they’ve continued to seek out a carnival since the pandemic but he’s been continually told they don’t have enough crew and costs have gone up for them to add extra events.
“A lot of them have had to cut back,” he said. “It’s a post-COVID world.”
Rosales said he’s called several West Coast vendors and tried going through fair associations’ contacts with no luck.
“We can’t get one,” he said. “The carnival was a main attraction, and people used to go from the parade to the carnival.”
Maples said they’re not sure how much tickets and unlimited rides would cost for a carnival vendor compared to 2019’s prices, but organizers wanted to keep festivities at Family Fun Days free.
She said if an opportunity does come up for a carnival vendor, they’ll investigate it. She also encourages people with potential contacts to contact the festival through its website at irrigationfestival.com.
Festival support
Maples estimates the carnival brought in about $20,000 a year, and with those revenues not coming in, board members had to use reserves to help with operations the last four years.
The all-volunteer, nonprofit festival did receive some local relief via local grants that helped, she said.
Organizers said sponsorships also have helped, and they’ve reached out to new companies and those who have not sponsored the festival for awhile.
Maples said the most immediate way to support the festival is to have more people bid on items at the Kickoff Auction either in person or online at kickoff2024.givesmart.com.
“It has fantastic experiences and items, and they’re coming in larger than before,” she said.
Family Fun Days
With no carnival, festival organizers extended the Family Fun Days again to two days, Saturday and Sunday May 4-5, in Carrie Blake Community Park for the first weekend of the festival, also called Crazy Callen Weekend.
It will feature the return of free laser tag, Strait Up Foam Fun, crafts, games and more. The weekend’s schedule is to be determined.
For more on the Sequim Irrigation Festival, Washington state’s longest running festival, visit irrigationfestival.com.
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Matthew Nash is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. Reach him at matthew.nash@sequimgazette.com.
