SEQUIM — The Sequim Irrigation Festival is in the running to snatch the top ranking in the “Best Small Town Celebration” category of the “Family Fun” segment in the 2015 Best Northwest Escapes contest by KING-TV.
As of Tuesday, the Irrigation Festival was in first place among a total of 55 contenders. It could become eligible to win a $5,000 grand prize.
The contest, hosted by the “Evening Magazine” series of the NBC-affiliate KING-TV Channel 5 of Seattle, has 81 categories.
“We are obviously absolutely honored but not surprised,” Deon Kapetan, director for the 2015 Sequim Irrigation Festival, said Tuesday.
“I don’t know, honestly, why it hasn’t been nominated before.
“We are honored and really appreciative to be nominated.”
She didn’t know who had nominated the festival.
Voting began Monday and will conclude at 11 p.m. April 24, with the winners being announced May 18.
How to vote
Voting can be done online at http://tinyurl.com/PDN-irrigationfestcontest.
In addition to bragging rights, the nominees that earn the most votes will be eligible for a grand prize of a Visa gift card valued at $5,000.
The winner will be selected at random.
The festival committee would use the money to pay for scholarships or add to the general fund, Kapetan said.
“Get out there and vote,” she said.
“It is really our opportunity to shine and show what we have on the [North Olympic] Peninsula over here because there are very few festivals that are completely volunteer-run that can state they have this sort of success.
“Our community should be proud of it,” Kapetan said.
“Everybody should pass it along and vote and hopefully, we will win.”
And “with our statement this year of ‘120, Fun Aplenty,’ it just kind of seems fitting,” Kapetan added.
“With 120 years and being the oldest continuing festival, why wouldn’t we get it?”
The festival celebrates the initiation, development and support of the irrigation ditches that brought water to the once-dry prairies of Sequim.
The festival will be held May 1-10 in downtown Sequim.
For more information, see www.irrigationfestival.com.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or at cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com
