Sequim’s Irrigation Festival begins 122nd year this weekend

SEQUIM — Hometown pride flows strong in Sequim starting today as the first of two weekends of the Sequim Irrigation Festival begins.

With the tagline “122 Skies of Blue,” the festival that will continue through May 14 remains Washington’s longest running festival.

Its first set of events under the banner Crazy Callen weekend features the Crazy Daze Breakfast, Kids Parade, Innovative Arts &Crafts Fair, Family Fun Day, the Sequim High School Operetta “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” and the First Friday Art Walk, among other activities.

The Peninsula Driftwood Artists will host the 47th annual show at Pioneer Park, 387 E. Washington St., from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Guest artists from the Pacific Northwest Wood Artisans will be at the show, which will offer artists demonstrations and driftwood for sale.

For more about Peninsula Driftwood Artists, see www.peninsuladriftwood artists.org.

• Crazy Daze Breakfast — 7 a.m. today; Sunland Golf &Country Club, 109 Hilltop Drive.

• Innovative Arts and Crafts Fair — 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. today, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday; Sequim Civic Center Plaza, 152 W. Cedar St.

• First Friday Art Walk — 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. today in downtown Sequim.

• “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” operetta — 7 p.m. today; 1 p.m. Saturday; Sequim High School auditorium, 603 N. Sequim Ave. Tickets $10 opening night and $10-$18 for other shows.

• Family Fun Day — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in downtown Sequim.

• Kids Parade — 9 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. (staging), 9:15 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. (parade), 9:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. (awards ceremony) Saturday. Children will meet first at Washington Federal, 191 W. Washington St., and go to the Innovative Arts &Crafts Fair Stage off Bell Street.

• Driftwood Art Show — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday; Pioneer Park, 387 E. Washington St.

• Sequim Farmers Market — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday; corner of Washington Street and Sequim Avenue, and Whimsy Park.

• Collector’s Cancellation Stamp — 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The postmaster will be at the Innovative Arts and Crafts Fair to cancel a special limited-edition envelope that includes the festival logo. Those who can’t make it to the festival can purchase envelopes at the Sequim Post Office, 240 S. Sunnyside Ave., through May 31.

All events are free to attend aside from the operetta and Crazy Daze Breakfast.

Residents will dress in costumes and perform skits for prizes at the breakfast to open the festival, which costs $10 per adult and $8 per child. Tickets are available at the door or in advance from Cherry Creek Mortgage, First Federal’s Sequim branches, Sound Community Bank and the Visitor Information Center.

The Innovative Arts &Crafts Fair continues its theme of focusing on “Reuse, Recycle and Repurpose” and features demonstrations from different artists and groups all day Saturday and Sunday.

Some of the highlights for the weekend include students from “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” performing some of the operetta at the arts and crafts fair at 9:45 a.m. Saturday, followed by live music both Saturday and Sunday.

Patrons also can preview the arts and crafts fair during the First Friday Art Walk.

Washington Street will close to drivers between Sequim and Second avenues at 6 a.m. Saturday and reopen later that evening. A portion of Cedar Street from Sequim Avenue to Seal Street will close through Sunday early evening.

Looking ahead

Next week, the Grand Finale Weekend of May 12-14 will feature a carnival, Logging Show, Hot Rods &Harley Show, Strongman Showdown, fireworks and Grand Parade.

The Fun Run on Saturday, May 13, will start at 9:30 a.m. for both the 5K and 1K with registration at 8:30 a.m. in the J.C. Penney parking lot, 651 W. Washington St.

The run will follow the festival’s Grand Parade route along Washington Street and turn around at Shipley Center, 921 E. Hammond St.

The fee is $30. For more information or to register, call 360-582-7036 or email get_results_cpt@yahoo.com.

Carnival wristbands are on sale now for unlimited rides at Sound Community Bank, KeyBank (Sequim/Port Angeles), Dungeness Kids Co. and the Visitor Information Center for $20 through May 11. They will cost $25 at the event.

For more about the festival, visit www.irrigationfestival.com.

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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.