SEQUIM — The Irrigation Festival is said to be the state’s oldest consecutively running event of its kind, but the committee planning this year’s celebration isn’t resting on its laurels.
Representatives from the festival — kicking off Saturday and running through May 8 — assured members of the Sequim-Dungeness Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday that they’re still perfecting the event.
They also took the opportunity to play the hometown card.
“This is a celebration for Sequim; nothing else,” said Marie Angier, chair for the annual event which began 109 years ago after Sequim-Dungeness Valley pioneers figured out how to bring much-needed water to their fertile fields.
A butterfly will serve as mascot for this year’s festival, themed “Flutter Through the Dungeness Valley.”
As in past years, many of the festival’s marquee events and traditions remain.
There are still four young women forming an Irrigation Festival Royalty Court — and they still perform an original song, as they did for Tuesday’s guests at the chamber luncheon.
Representing Sequim in the Royalty Court for 2004 are Queen Katie Gammill and Princesses Chelsea Beus, Ashlee Gustason and Shaina Smith.
Wearing sparking tiaras and crooning to a modified version of the 1965 Lovin’ Spoonful hit, “Do You Believe in Magic,” the royal quad reminded their fans that the agriculturally themed festival has a dimension of glamour as well.
New to this year’s festivities include changing the name of the popular “Festival in the Field” event to “Kids’ Irrigation Festival Day,” and bringing it indoors to the Boys & Girls Club on Fir Street.
The May 1 activities will still cater to kids, featuring crafts, games, face painting and indoor “putt putt” golf.
The Kiddies’ Parade will still take place at the Sequim High School football field. It begins at 9:30 a.m.
