Sequim Lavender Weekend underway

SEQUIM — Whether you’re looking for a selfie, a snapshot for a wedding invite or some scenic views, Sequim is the place to be this weekend.

Sequim Lavender Weekend, which begins today and runs through Sunday, packs in dozens of events for people of all ages with plenty of photo opportunities.

To lavender newcomers, this weekend features seasoned and newer farms, a Street Fair, live music, plenty of food, numerous festivals including the 23rd Sequim Lavender Festival, and of course more lavender than you can shake a lavender-infused wand at.

At Jardin du Soleil Lavender Farm, 3932 Sequim-Dungeness Way, Paul and Jordan Schiefen continue their tradition of offering photographs by Sequim High photography students. They’ll use your camera or phone to frame a shot of you with a picture frame in the lavender.

Last year, Michigan couple Nathan and Olivia Mckay snapped a photo for their save-the-date wedding announcement.

“There’s usually a line of people,” Paul Schiefen said of the photo-op.

This Saturday, a Volkswagen bus will be brought to the farm for free photos decorated with a 1960s flare.

A few miles away at Kitty B’s Lavender Farm, 82 Cameron Acres Lane, co-owner Jeanette Bockelie said visiting photographers range from amateur to professionals during the Sequim Lavender Festival.

Last year, a photographer spent two days snapping shots in her fields, she said, and one photo was used in the “2019 Official Washington State Visitor’s Guide.”

Bockelie said she embraces having a smaller farm and sees it as more of a garden.

“My aim is for people to have an experience here,” Bockelie said. “It’s a little slice of paradise.”

In Carrie Blake Community Park, Debbie Madden, executive director of the Sequim Irrigation Festival, said photo-ops abound. They include a wood cutout with Dr. Lavender and the real Dr. Lavender, aka Paul Jendrucko, as well as live music on the LavenderStock stage.

Madden said it’s not uncommon to see dogs dressed up in lavender-inspired wares, too.

But if you ask farmers and volunteers where to go for photos, they might tell you that you can’t go wrong whether your sitting in a giant chair (Olympic Lavender Farm) or with a beautiful inn behind you (Washington Lavender Farm) or among feathered friends (Nelson’s Duckpond & Lavender Farm).

Lavender Weekend overview

This weekend, 18 farms host events ranging from U-pick lavender to food and drinks to live music. Many are free to attend, three charge a small fee for entry, some only open this weekend while many remain open all summer. Washington Lavender Festival continues its 10-day festival from July 12-21.

Here’s a quick rundown:

Sequim Lavender Festival Farm Tour open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. all weekend. Admission is free.

• Earth Muffin Lavender, 2333 Woodcock Road.

• Fat Cat Garden & Gifts, 21 Fat Cat Lane.

• Graysmarsh Farm, 6187 Woodcock Road.

• Kitty B’s Lavender Farm, 82 Cameron Acres Lane.

• Meli’s Lavender, 62 W. Diane Drive.

• Nelson Duckpond & Lavender Farm, 73 Humble Hill Road.

• Peninsula Nursery, 1060 Sequim-Dungeness Way.

• Troll Haven, 950 Gardiner Beach Road.

More free admission farms:

• B&B Family Farm, 5883 Old Olympic Highway; open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Lavender Connection, 1141 Cays Road; open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

• Lost Mountain Lavender, 1541 Taylor Cutoff Road; open 10 a.m.to 6 p.m. today through Saturday and until 5 p.m. Sunday.

• Martha Lane Lavender, 371 Martha Lane; open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

• Sunshine Herb & Lavender Farm, 274154 U.S. Highway 101; open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and until 5 p.m. Sunday.

• Victor’s Lavender Celebration, 3743 Old Olympic Highway; open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. today, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

• Washington Lavender, 965 Finn Hall Road; open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Pay to visit farms:

• Purple Haze Lavender’s Purple Haze Daze, 180 Bell Bottom Lane, starting at 10 a.m. for $15 pre-sale and $18 at the gate. One day pass $12. Children 12 and younger are free. Purplehazelavender.com.

• Jardin du Soleil Lavender Festival, 3832 Sequim-Dungeness Way, and Olympic Lavender Festival, 1532 Marine Drive, two-for-one $10 admission per person to both farms all weekend. Children 12 and younger free to enter. Free shuttle from Carrie Blake Community Park. www.jardindusoleil.com, Buylavender.com

Shuttles

A free shuttle runs to these three farms from the Sequim Civic Center, downtown Sequim, Sound Community Bank by QFC and Carrie Blake Community Park.

Another shuttle will operate 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday from the Sequim Middle School, Sequim High School, Sequim Civic Center, Second Avenue/Washington Street, Carrie Blake Community Park, and Sound Community Bank by QFC.

Street Fair in the Park

For its second year in Carrie Blake Community Park, Madden said more parking, bigger shuttle buses and extra seating has been added by the Sequim Lavender Festival’s Street Fair.

“We’ve made a lot of adjustments, and it’s going to feel more comfortable,” she said.

Festival organizers moved the Street Fair due to anticipated construction on Fir Street, which continues this year and possibly next.

The fair features more than 150 vendors with artists, nonprofits, SLGA booths and food court vendors along with music all three days from the James Center for Performing Arts for LavenderStock and a Street Dance at 7 p.m. Saturday with Black Diamond Junction.

The Street Fair runs 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. today through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. More information is available at www.lavenderfestival.com.

Other Sequim events:

• ARTJAM 2019: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today through Sunday, Rock Hollow Farm, 505 E. Silberhorn Road.

• Olympic Driftwood Sculptors: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today through Sunday, Sequim Middle School cafeteria, 301 W. Hendrickson Road.

• Sequim Farmers Market: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Saturday, Sequim Civic Center Plaza, 152 W. Cedar St.

• Sunbonnet Sue Quilt Show: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sequim Middle School.

More information:

For more information on all lavender weekend events, visit www.sequimlavenderweekend.com and look for the Sequim Gazette/Peninsula Daily News’ “Sequim Lavender Weekend” guide at all the farms, local businesses, the Visitor’s Information Center, and Street Fair Information Booth.

Soroptimists partner with vineyards

Soroptimist International of Sequim will sell Port Townsend Vineyards wine at the Lost Mountain Lavender Farm 1541 Lost Mountain Road as a fundraiser today through Sunday.

Lavender lemonade, sangria, and Port Townsend Vineyards Discovery White and Red will be available along with lavender biscotti and scones, and lemon lavender cupcakes.

Proceeds will support Soroptimist’s efforts to support women and girls in Sequim and Clallam County.

For more information, contact, membership@sisequim.org, write “Soroptimist International of Sequim, PO Box 126, Sequim, WA, 98382,” or visit sisequim.org.

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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 mnash@sequimgazette.com.