SEQUIM –– The network of ditches that have watered farm fields in the Dungeness Valley will be celebrated over the next two weekends with the 119th Sequim Irrigation Festival.
Festival events will continue through May 11, with the Grand Parade Saturday, May 10.
The theme for this year’s version of Washington state’s oldest continuing festival is “Mountains to Sea . . . A Pristine Place to Be,” and the celebration’s dignitaries reveal partialities to one side or the other.
“Ooh, the mountains,” said Jan Smith, who, along with husband Gary, is serving as Grand Marshal for this year’s festival.
“I feel inspired by them. Gary may say the sea because we have a sailboat, but it doesn’t give me the same inspiration as the mountains.”
Honorary Pioneer Glenn Greathouse gave the flip side to Smith’s love of the mountains.
“I used to do a bit of mountain climbing when I was young,” Greathouse said. “But at this stage in my life, sitting in a sailboat sounds a lot nicer.”
Festival director Deon Kapetan showed allegiance to the sea.
“The sea has crabs,” Kapetan said. “That wins every day.”
Honorary Pioneer Mabel Sorensen and Grand Pioneer Dorothy Daniels Ludke both showed affinity with the ground between mountains and sea.
“We just live in such a beautiful place,” Ludke said. “I feel so blessed to be here.”
“I’ve always thought Agnew is the perfect place,” Sorenson said.
This weekend
Events will be citywide for the weeklong festival’s first weekend, called the Crazy Callen Weekend.
Here is the schedule:
Saturday
■ 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Family Fun Day will take over Washington Street between Sequim and Second avenues.
Booths set up by Sequim-area organizations will offer events and activities.
■ 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. — The 45th annual Peninsula Driftwood Artists show at Pioneer Park.
The show will include guest artists from the Pacific Northwest Wood Artisans, demonstrations and driftwood for sale.
■ 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. — The Sequim Farmers Market will kick off its 17th year in its new home at the city’s Centennial Plaza at the corner of Washington Street and Sequim Avenue.
In addition to the arts and crafts, fresh agricultural bounty grown between the mountains and the sea will be for sale.
■ 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Street Fair on Bell Street between Sequim and Second avenues.
Vendors for the 24th year will have arts and crafts on display and for sale.
Live entertainment and food are planned throughout the weekend.
■ 10 a.m. — The Kids Parade will begin at Second Avenue and Washington Street (with lineup at 9:30 a.m.) and continue down the alley to Bell Street, then through the Street Fair to the entertainment stage at Bell Street and Second Avenue.
Awards will be given on the entertainment stage. Grand prize winners will ride in the Grand Parade on Saturday, May 10.
Entrants must be 12 years or younger.
■ 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Sequim Arts’ 38th juried art show will be displayed at Bell Creek Plaza, 990 E. Washington St., daily through Sunday, May 11.
■ 2 p.m. — Sequim High School’s 48th annual operetta “The Sound of Music,” at the school’s auditorium at 601 N Sequim Ave.
■ 7 p.m. to midnight — The Oasis Bar and Grill, 301 E. Washington St., will sponsor a fund-the-float dance with local band Haywire.
Sunday
■ 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Street Fair on Bell Street between Sequim and Second avenues.
■ 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Sequim Arts’ 38th juried art show will be displayed at Bell Creek Plaza daily through May 11.
Next week
The culminating weekend of the Sequim Irrigation Festival will feature a Grand Parade, logging show and fireworks.
Here’s what lies ahead:
■ Carnival, Thursday through May 11 — Davis Shows Northwest’s carnival whips the festival back into shape in the Fir Street field west of Sequim High School from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday; 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, May 9; noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, May 10; and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 11.
■ Walking tour, Thursday — The history behind some of downtown’s most prominent buildings will be featured in the Museum & Arts Center’s second annual Sequim History Walking Tour.
The one-hour, one-block tour will be guided by Sequim pioneers who will share their personal connections to the buildings.
The tour begins at the Museum Exhibit Center, 175 W. Cedar St., at 10:30 a.m.
No reservations are needed.
A second tour may be added at 1 p.m. if more than 10 people want to attend.
■ Golf tournament, May 9 — The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula will host their 23rd Irrigation Festival golf tournament at SunLand Golf & Country Club on May 9.
Entry fee is $100 and includes the round, time on the practice range and a commemorative cap.
To register, visit www.bgc-op.org or phone 360-683-8095.
■ Grand Parade, May 10 — The parade will snake its way down Washington Street beginning at noon, moving westward from Dunlap Avenue to Seventh Avenue.
The parade will feature dozens of floats, festival queens, marching bands and classic cars from all around the state.
Sound Community Bank and the city are asking parade-goers to bring jars of peanut butter to be collected along the parade route for donation to the Sequim Food Bank.
■ Logging Show, Truck & Tractor Pull and Strongman Showdown, May 9 — The show is from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Blake Avenue lot south of Carrie Blake Park.
More logging show events are set from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 10.
■ Fireworks, May 9 — Fireworks will light up the night sky at Carrie Blake Park at 9:30 p.m.
■ Dungeness River Center Fun Run, May 10 — The run will take off down the Grand Parade route beginning downtown at 10 a.m.
Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m.
■ Thunder Roll Car Cruzz, May 10 — The classic car cruise on Washington Street will start at 10:45 a.m. and end at the Walmart parking lot, 1110 W. Washington St., for a car show.
For information, visit www.irrigationfestival.com.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Joe Smillie can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or at jsmillie@peninsuladailynews.com.
