PORT LUDLOW — Organizers are doing everything they can to ensure a sunny weekend for those who come to enjoy the boat races, sailboat tours, games, music and booths of the 5th Annual Port Ludlow Funfest.
They’re even doing a little dance.
Last year, the Funfest — which this year takes place from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday — was in early October.
Rain poured down for several hours and put a damper on the event.
Organizers moved the date of the festival forward so as to catch some last rays of summer sunshine.
They also have resorted to another way to try to ward off rain.
“All the committee members have a little dance they do,” said Marilyn Durand, who is co-chairing the event with her husband Dick Durand.
“It’s an anti-rain dance.”
The National Weather Service forecasts mostly dry conditions over the weekend, but with some light rain possible.
Weather permitting, Durand expects about 5,000 attendees at the festival at the Port Ludlow Marina off Oak Bay Road.
Music, boats and booths
To kick-off the event, a band called Nostalgia will play 7 p.m. tonight at the Beach Club.
Nostalgia plays songs from the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s, and tickets will cost $15 at the door.
Other events throughout the weekend will be free.
The main events of the festival will be the dinghy races that will take place at 5 p.m. Saturday and at 11 a.m. Sunday.
The race on Saturday will have dinghy skippers wearing blindfolds with a mate who will call out directions.
“There’s a prize for the best costume,” said Durand.
Anyone is welcome to participate in the race.
Participants must provide their own dinghies.
The dinghy race on Sunday will be more traditional: No blindfolds.
Another race planned Sunday is the radio control sailboats race put on by Sequim Aquanauts at 11 a.m. in the Marina Lagoon.
In addition to the activities, 57 vendors of arts and crafts will be there, as well as food booths.
The Port Ludlow Village Council is sponsoring a beer and braught booth.
Live music will take place throughout the weekend.
A highlight is expected to be the Chimacum High School Saxophone Quartet, which will perform at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Other activities throughout the weekend will be hot air balloon rides, sailboat tours of Port Ludlow Bay, and children’s activities such as face painting and clowns.
A community photo will be shot at 4 p.m. Saturday.
“This one will be bigger, we’ll have more vendors and it will be more fun than last year,” said Durand.
