Rhododendron Festival will see a royal reunion

Published 12:01 am Friday, May 14, 2010

PORT TOWNSEND — The 75th annual Rhododendron Festival reaches its peak this weekend with a Grand Parade on Saturday that will include featured participants from throughout its storied history.

“As of Thursday afternoon, we have 54 women who were former Rhody Festival royalty, ranging from age 18 to 87,” said Christy Spencer, who is organizing the reunion.

“It’s fascinating, because the younger ones can learn a lot from those who came before them, about how things used to be.”

The former Rhody royalty will serve as the grand marshals for the parade.

The parade caps off a week of activity, which represents the oldest continuous festival in Jefferson County.

The town is preparing for an influx of visitors who love flowers and parades.

Those visitors will not be disappointed.

But even as observers watch a steady stream of character and personality walk by, the meaning to the community can be understood best by those who live here.

Other festivals make more money, attract more people and draw more advertising, but it is during the Rhody Fest that families schedule their reunions, and invite old friends and acquaintances to come to town, said Grand Parade Chair Rita Hubbard.

“Everyone working on this festival has a full-time job,” Hubbard said.

“We all do this on our own time.”

Hubbard is stepping down as parade chair after serving in the job for three years.

Continue tradition

She hopes that younger people will come forward to continue the tradition that defines the town.

“I’ve loved doing this,” she said. “But if you don’t step down, you will never get anyone else to step up.”

On Saturday morning prior to the parade, sponsors will gather the past royalty for a group shot, and will then assemble for the parade, which begins at 1 p.m.

The process has changed since the first parade in 1935, when royalty was selected by the number of buttons sold.

It has since evolved into a scholarship program where young women learn skills that will help them in business and life.

Spencer, who served as royalty in 1987, feels the program helped her and continues to benefit its participants.

Right after the Rhody Parade, Make Waves! is hosting a free pool party from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. for children who would not normally have access to the pool at the Mountain View Commons at Blaine and Walker streets.

Rhody Fest participants don’t have to wait for Saturday to enjoy a parade.

Parades today

Two processions are planned today: the Kiddie Parade at 3 p.m. and the Bed Race at 6 p.m.

Children will assemble for the Kiddie Parade at 2:45 p.m. at Lawrence Street and Pierce Street, then march to Madison Street.

Bed Race participants will gather at 6 p.m. at Washington Street and Quincy Street and march to Taylor Street.

There are no registration or fees required. Participants only need to show up and join in.

The winners of all the small parades will be featured in the Grand Parade, which begins at 1 p.m. Saturday on Lawrence Street uptown.

The parade will travel east on Lawrence Street, south on Monroe Street, west on Water Street and north on Monroe Street.

Other events include the Kiwanis Fish Fry from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at the American Legion Hall, 209 Monroe Street, and a pancake breakfast from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Elks Lodge, 555 Otto St.

Plants on display

The plants that give the festival its name will be on active display all weekend, all over town.

The public can enter their best rhododendron bloom at the annual Rhododendron Show at the Fort Worden State Park Chapel from noon to 6 p.m. today.

Members of the Olympic Peninsula Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society, which is sponsoring the show, will help new exhibitors fill out entry tags and make suggestions for best display.

Vases will be provided.

Entries will be accepted for wild rhodies, hybrid rhodies, evergreen azaleas and deciduous azaleas.

All entries will be judged Saturday morning.

The show will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Raffle tickets for several large plants will be on sale and a rhododendron sale will occur on Saturday.

Rhody Run

On Sunday, the 32nd annual Rhody Run will take off at 11 a.m.

It is a 7.46-mile event beginning and ending at Fort Worden State Park. It usually draws a crowd of 2,000 runners and walkers.

The course is a loop through a rural area with views of mountains, woods and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and consists of mixed flat, hills and roads.

There are aid stations at miles 4 and 6, and projected finish times are given at miles 4, 5 and 6.

Proceeds from the Rhody Run are returned to the community in the form of scholarships and assistance to both individual runners and to the programs that sponsor them.

Also on Saturday, the 17th annual Jim Caldwell Memorial Rhody Golf Tournament will begin at 8 a.m. at the Port Townsend Golf Club.

It will continue on Sunday, beginning at 9 a.m.

For more information, see www.rhodyfestival.org/.

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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.