PORT TOWNSEND — The 75th annual Rhododendron Festival has begun in earnest, with a Trike Race barreling down Washington Street on Wednesday and a Pet Parade planned today.
Forty-three children on three-wheeled bikes or two-wheelers with training wheels decked with flowers and in costume moved between Taylor Street and Quincy Street.
Participation was restricted to those 6 years and youngerv.
The Pet Parade takes place at 4 p.m. today on Lawrence Street between Pierce Street and Taylor Street.
Two parades occur on Friday, the Kiddie Parade at 3 p.m. and the Bed Race at 6 p.m.
Children will assemble for the Kiddie Parade at 2:45 at Lawrence Street and Pierce Street, then march to Madison Street.
Bed Race participants will gather at 6 p.m. at Washington Street and Quincy Street and march to Taylor Street.
There are no registration or fees required. Participants only need to show up and join in.
Grand Parade on Saturday
The winners of all the small parades will be featured in the Grand Parade, which begins at 1 p.m. Saturday on Lawrence Street uptown.
The parade will travel east on Lawrence Street, south on Monroe Street, west on Water Street and north on Monroe Street.
Other events include the Kiwanis Fish Fry from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at the American Legion Hall, 209 Monroe Street, and a pancake breakfast from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Elks Lodge, 555 Otto Street.
Rhododendron Show
A show of the plant for which festival is named is planned Saturday at the annual Rhododendron Show at the Fort Worden State Park Chapel.
The public can enter their best rhododendron blooms from noon to 6 p.m. Friday.
Members of the Olympic Peninsula Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society will accept entries of wild rhodies, hybrid rhodies, evergreen azaleas and deciduous azaleas.
All entries will be judged Saturday morning, and the show will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Raffle tickets for several large plants will be on sale and a rhododendron sale will occur on Saturday.
Also on Saturday, the 17th annual Jim Caldwell Memorial Rhody Golf Tournament will begin at 8 a.m. at the Port Townsend Golf Club.
It will continue on Sunday, beginning at 9 a.m.
