SEQUIM — About 10,000 flocked to the Sequim Irrigation Festival this year, thanks to the good weather, said Joe Borden, festival director.
The 115th annual Irrigation Festival was themed in honor of the pioneers of the area.
“With the great weather this weekend, it really helped,” Borden said.
“Last weekend was a little windier, but it went well too.”
Because many of the events are free, an official count is not possible because there is no money or tickets to count up to make an estimate.
“It was definitely more than last year,” he said.
“That is how it goes from year to year with weather and other factors.”
In particular, the parade and log show had a hefty attendance, Borden said.
“Both of those events really drew people,” he said.
“The carnival wasn’t quite as good this year, but that, I think, is a result of the lagging economy.”
About 119 entrants celebrated the annual festival in the parade, Borden said.
Although only 99 were “official” entrants, others were squeezed in as well.
“Then right after, we headed over to the car show and gave a way lots of prizes and raffles,” he said.
“This year, there were lots of winners at the festival.”
Committee members will take a brief two- or three-week break before starting in on next year’s festival, he said.
He also applauded the many free events with boosting the attendance of the festival.
Other events included an arts and crafts fair, a pageant and strongman show.
The festival celebrates the history of Sequim.
It draws its name from the tradition of bringing water from the Dungeness River to irrigate the prairie lands.
The first celebration was held on July 20, 1895, when a group of people gathered to celebrate the opening of the first irrigation ditch.
To learn more about Irrigation Festival events, volunteer opportunities and history, visit www.IrrigationFestival.com.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.