SEQUIM — The first weekend of the Sequim Irrigation Festival will begin with this morning’s Crazy Daze Breakfast.
Washington’s longest continuing festival is set from today through May 15 in this, its 121st year.
Organizers say a few changes are in store but that most of the traditions which have made a must-see event for family and friends continue on.
Crazy Callen Weekend is this weekend.
It was named after D.R. Callen, who helped convince locals to irrigate the area using uphill techniques, considered somewhat, well, crazy, but which worked to make the dry Sequim-Dungeness Valley fertile.
The weekend will feature Family Fun Day, the Kids Parade, the Innovative Arts and Crafts Fair, First Friday Art Walk, Driftwood Art Show, Sequim Farmers Market opening and the first weekend of the Sequim High operetta “Cinderella.”
All but the operetta and Crazy Daze are free to attend.
The Crazy Daze Breakfast costs $10 per adult and $8 per child.
Awards will be given for the best skits.
Costumes are encouraged.
Get tickets
Tickets are available at the door or in advance from Cherry Creek Mortgage, First Federal’s Sequim branches, Sound Community Bank and the Sequim Visitor Information Center.
The Innovative Arts and Crafts Fair, in its 26th year, has been moved from Bell Street to the Civic Center and Cedar Street for safety reasons and to better connect the downtown events, according to Deon Kapetan, festival executive director.
Demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday will fit the theme of recycling, reusing and repurposing.
A showcase and contest in categories of apparels, housewares and toys/tools is planned.
Applications are available online for the contest at www.irrigationfestival.com.
During tonight’s Art Walk, visitors can preview the fair the night before the event officially opens.
They also will be able to take photos of themselves as Sid, the festival’s mascot, in a wood cutout.
Children and families will gather for the Kids Parade at 9 a.m. Saturday at Washington Federal before walking around the Family Fun Day street fair at 9:15 a.m.
Prizes will be given afterward.
Live entertainment is planned at the fair and Fun Day.
The opening day of the Sequim Farmers Market for the season will be Saturday.
This is its 20th anniversary.
Ten new vendors are expected along with 40 old favorites, and music will be by the Old Sidekicks.
The Peninsula Driftwood Artists will present the group’s 47th annual show of driftwood sculptures at Pioneer Park on Saturday.
Admission will be free, and cameras are welcome.
All-day demonstrations of works-in-progress are planned, and unfinished driftwood will be for sale. Raffle tickets will be available.
Schedule
Here is the weekend’s schedule:
Today
■ 7 a.m. — Crazy Daze Breakfast, SunLand Golf & Country Club, 109 Hilltop Drive.
■ 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. — First Friday Art Walk, downtown Sequim.
■ 7 p.m. — “Cinderella” operetta, Sequim High auditorium, 601 N. Sequim Ave.
Saturday
■ 9 a.m. — Kids Parade; gather at Washington Federal, 191 W. Washington St.
■ 9:15 a.m. — Kids Parade begins through downtown Sequim.
■ 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Sequim Farmers Market, Centennial Place, northeast corner of Washington Street and Sequim Avenue.
■ 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Family Fun Day, Washington Street between Sequim and Second avenues.
■ 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Driftwood Art Show, Pioneer Park, 387 E. Washington St.
■ 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Innovative Arts and Crafts Fair, Cedar Street and Sequim Civic Center Plaza.
■ 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. — “Cinderella” operetta, Sequim High auditorium.
Sunday
■ 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Innovative Arts and Crafts Fair.
Traffic closures
Cedar Street will be closed at 11 a.m. today from Sequim Avenue to Second Avenue, except for event traffic, to accommodate the Innovative Arts and Crafts Fair and First Friday Art Walk.
Access will be available to the disabled parking at City Hall only.
Seal Street also will be closed from Cedar Street to the alley during this time. Seal Street and Cedar Street will be reopened at 6 p.m. Sunday.
Washington Street will close between Sequim and Second avenues at 6 a.m. Saturday and reopen at 6 p.m. Saturday for Family Fun Days.
Grand Finale
The following weekend, the Grand Finale Weekend, will feature a carnival, a Sequim History Walking Tour, the annual Logging Show and Truck and Tractor Pull, the Strongman Showdown, fireworks, a golf tournament, a Fun Run, a Car Show and Cruzz, and the Grand Parade.
Kapetan said the parade likely will reach its capacity of 120 entries.
Carnival wristbands are on sale now for unlimited rides through May 11.
They can be purchased at Sound Community Bank, KeyBank in both Sequim and Port Angeles, and at the Sequim Visitor Information Center.
For more information about the festival, visit www.irrigationfestival.com.
