PORT TOWNSEND — The Navy Northwest Band will lead the Kiddie Parade at the 77th annual Rhododendron Festival today as the community celebration begins its final weekend.
The parade band out of Silverdale — which has some 22 members — will cap off the parade with a 45-minute concert at Pope Marine Park.
The parade will begin at 3:30 p.m. after judging at 3 p.m. and take a longer route this year than in the past to accommodate the band, which contacted the festival to offer an unscheduled performance, said Melanie Bozak, who is festival co-president with Christie Hensley.
Previously, the procession began near the Port Townsend Library, but this year, the children will begin gathering at about 2:30 p.m. near Aldrich’s Market at Lawrence and Adams streets.
The parade, which is sponsored by the Port Townsend Kiwanis, will proceed down Lawrence, turn right at Monroe and proceed to Water Street for a concert by the Navy band.
Other than the Navy band, there is nothing particularly unique about this year’s festival, Bozak said — and that’s a large part of its charm.
Sense of renewal
The yearly festival, the first of Port Townsend’s big events, is a time to enjoy spring and a sense of renewal, she said.
“Rhody just goes on,” Bozak said.
“It’s where everyone wants to be at this time of year.
“There is nothing different about this year.
“It’s not our 75th anniversary, and there is no commemoration of anything, but it is still the time when a lot of people who grew up here come back to Port Townsend.”
The event, which continues throughout this weekend, serves as parade comfort food.
That what happens this year is the same as last year and the year before is part of the appeal.
The annual Trike Race was Wednesday, and the annual Pet Parade was Thursday.
In addition to the Kiddie Parade, still to come are the Bed Races today, the Grand Parade on Saturday and the Rhody Run on Sunday — among other events.
There are subtle differences in the community celebration from one year to the next, but the idea is always the same.
Port Townsend residents come out for kid and pet parades or to march down the street in support of a civic group, a school, a cause or a business.
The familiarity provides the framework, but there are always changes, such as the Navy band’s participation.
This year also featured the third annual “Dude Looks Like a Lady” event last Saturday, where local men dressed in drag, did a dance routine and raised $2,500 for the Rhody royalty scholarship fund with dollar bills stuffed into their garter belts.
“This isn’t something I normally do,” said Kevin James, who earned the “Biggest Diva” honor. “But it’s fun to be part of something that helps the community, and the parade gives everyone a chance to promote their interests and their businesses.”
Also last weekend was a two-day arts and crafts fair downtown and the Port Townsend Bicycle Association Rhody Bike Tour on Sunday.
On Monday, Queen Briel Kilham and Princess Krista Hathaway imprinted their handprints, and the Centennial Rhododendron Garden opened at Fort Worden State Park.
On Thursday, the carnival opened at Memorial Field.
Culminating weekend
This is the culminating weekend of the Rhody Festival.
After the Kiddie Parade today will be the Bed Races down Water Street at 6:30 p.m.
Assembly will be at the Northwest Maritime Center, 431 Water St., with judging at 6 p.m.
The sponsors are the Port Townsend Marathon Association and the Kinetic Sculpture Association.
On Saturday, the Grand Parade will begin at 1 p.m. in front of the Port Townsend Library, 1220 Lawrence St.
The crowd usually starts to gather several hours earlier so that people can watch the action and jockey for a good seat.
The parade will follow Lawrence to Adams, turning right and proceeding to Water Street, turning right and right again on Quincy Street.
On Sunday, the 12K Rhody Run will start and finish at the same point at Fort Worden State Park and cover a loop through a rural area with views of mountains, woods and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
It consists of mixed flat, hills and roads.
Registration is at 9 a.m., with the run beginning at 11 a.m. and the awards ceremony at 1:30 p.m.
The schedule for the weekend is:
Today
■ Noon to 6 p.m. — Rhododendron Flower Show entries, Fort Worden.
■ 3:30 p.m. — Kiddie Parade, staging at Lawrence and Taylor streets and proceeding down Lawrence to Monroe, then Water Street, capped by a 45-minute Navy Northwest Band performance at Pope Marine Park.
■ 4 p.m. — Funtastic Carnival, Memorial Field.
■ 6:30 p.m. — Bed Races, beginning at the Northwest Maritime Center, 431 Water St., with registration at 5 p.m. and judging at 6 p.m.
■ 7 p.m. — “Urinetown, the Musical,” at Port Townsend High School, 1500 Van Ness St.
Saturday
■ 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. — Elks Rhody Fundraiser Pancake Breakfast, Port Townsend Elks Lodge, 555 Otto St.
■ 8 a.m. — Jim Caldwell Memorial Rhody Open, Port Townsend Golf Club, 1948 Blaine St.
■ 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Flower show, Fort Worden Chapel, Olympic Peninsula chapter of the American Rhododendron Society.
■ Noon to 5 p.m. — Plant sale, Fort Worden Chapel.
■ 10:30 a.m. to Noon — Past Rhody Royalty Reunion at O’Meara Dance Studio, 1110 Lawrence St.
■ Noon to closing — Funtastic Carnival, Memorial Field.
■ Noon — Running of the Balls fundraiser, scheduled by the Port Townsend Sunrise Rotary Club before the Grand Parade at the corner of Lawrence and Adams streets.
■ 1 p.m. — Rhody Festival Grand Parade, beginning in front of the Port Townsend Library, 1220 Lawrence St., and traveling to Adams, Water and Quincy streets.
■ 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. — Spaghetti Feed at the Elks Lodge.
■ 7 p.m. — “Urinetown, the Musical” at Port Townsend High School.
Sunday
■ 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. — Elks Rhody Fundraiser Pancake Breakfast, Port Townsend Elks Lodge, 555 Otto St.
■ 9 a.m. — Jim Caldwell Memorial Rhody Open, Port Townsend Golf Club, 1948 Blaine St.
■ 9 a.m. — Rhody Run registration, Fort Worden.
■ 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Rhododendron Flower Show, Fort Worden Chapel.
■ 11 a.m. — Rhody Run begins, with awards at 1:30 p.m.
For more information, visit http://tinyurl.com/7v4vdgx.
________
Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
