Peninsula Daily News
The final days of the Port Townsend Rhododendron Festival and the New Old Time Chautauqua, as well as public tours of the refurbished Worthington Mansion in Quilcene, are this weekend, while the popular Jefferson Healthcare Rhody Run is Sunday.
The Rhody Run Redux on Sunday has been revamped from prior years. The race returns after a two-year hiatus at a new venue and a new course. It starts and finishes at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds at 4907 Landes St. It begins at 9 a.m. Sunday.
It will feature 5K and 10K race options for runners and walkers.
Registration is $45 for 19-64-year-olds, $40 for 65 and older, $15 for 18 and under, free for 5 and under and includes a long-sleeved shirt. Racers can register from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. today at the Arts Building at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds or at RhodyRun.com.
The Jefferson Healthcare Rhody Run is sanctioned by PAC Northwest and USATF and the course is USATF distance certified. For map of the course, see RhodyRun.com.
Proceeds from the Jefferson Healthcare Rhody Run Redux will support school sports programs and youth-oriented nonprofit organizations, including Jumping Mouse Children’s Center, The Benji Project, Quilcene/Brinnon Dollars for Scholars, and East Jefferson Rivals Athletics.
Donations also can be made online.
“Physical exercise is an excellent way to support mental well-being,” said Jen Little, race organizer.
“We couldn’t think of a better way to help the kids in our community than to support the organizations that work for them,” she continued.
“The return of the Rhody Run not only celebrates our community but emphasizes some normalcy we see returning to our lives.”
Local businesses will offer an After Celebration discount to runners when they present their race bibs to The Anchor, The Pourhouse, FinnRiver Cidery, Port Townsend Food Co-op, Elevated Ice Cream, and Fairwinds Winery, according to Jefferson Healthcare.
Thunderbull and the Production Alliance assisted with the course setup, Quilcene Oyster Run organizers are helping as course marshals and the Kiwanis Club is sponsoring the mile 4 water/aid station.
Rhody Fest
In addition to the Rhody Run, on Sunday — the final day of the 2022 Port Townsend Rhododendron Festival, which began Wednesday — will be the end of the Jim Caldwell Memorial Rhody Open.
The golf tournament began at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Port Townsend Golf Course, 1948 Blaine St. and on Sunday will resume at 9 a.m.
Also on Sunday, Sather Park on Morgan Hill will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. so that visitors can view newly planted Pacific Rhododendrons.
The grand finale of the Rhody Fest is today.
The Rhody Grand Parade will be at 1 p.m. from Uptown to Downtown, with registration from 8 a.m. to noon at Port Townsend Visitor Center.
The royal court selected for 2020 and 2021 will wave from the flat during the parade. Queen Jenessah Seebergoss is not able to be in the festival this year because of school, said Rita Hubbard, president of the festival, so the two princesses, Hailey Hirschel and Brigitte Palmer, will be on the float.
U.S. flags will be passed out to those watching the parade as it gets underway Saturday so that they can be waved as a color guard parades past under a banner that says: “Please Stand for Those Who Serve You.”
The Sunrise Rotary Running of the Balls is at 12:30 p.m. on Monroe Street.
A Spaghetti Feed is planned from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Port Townsend Elks Lodge, 555 Otto St. after Rhody Run registration.
A variety of street closures are planned over the weekend. See them at https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/entertainment/stop-and-smell-the-rhodies-again.
Chautauqua
New Old Time Chautauqua workshops will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Littlefield Green and Building 204 at Fort Worden.
At 4 p.m., PT Lottery tickets will be drawn for prizes.
The three-day event will end with a Chautauqua Community Congress, offering presentations and dialogue by tribal leaders and local and state elected officials, followed by community discussion, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The highlight of the Chautauqua celebration will be on Saturday with The Big Show at 7 p.m. in the McCurdy Pavilion at Fort Worden. It will feature acrobatic, comedic, musical and vaudeville-style performances from more than 20 acts.
Also today, the Chautauqua’s 1978 Cadillac will lead visitors from the Rhody parade to the annual Cake Picnic at Pope Marine Plaza at 3 p.m.
Tickets are $25 for adults and $12 for children 6 to 12 years old. Those who choose to do so also can support the Chautauqua Weekend with tickets of $50, $100 or $250. All tickets provide access to all events scheduled for the weekend. They are available at theproductionalliance.org/events/chautauquaweek, at The Food Co-op or at Littlefield Green at Fort Worden.
Worthington Mansion
A ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday opened the now completely restored Worthington Mansion on Friday.
Today and Sunday, public tours are planned between 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. each day at the mansion in Worthington Park, 151 W. Columbia St., in Quilcene.
The mansion is expected to be open for overnight stays sometime in June.
The $1.6 million restoration of the 13-room structure took more than 43,000 volunteer hours, said Brian Cullin, spokesperson for the Quilcene Historical Museum, which owns the mansion.
