SEQUIM — Washington state’s longest-running festival , the Sequim Irrigation Festival, begins its 123rd edition today.
The two-weekend event — Come to Sequim with Me — runs through May 13 starting with Crazy Callen Weekend from today through Sunday.
The Crazy Daze Breakfast kicks off the festivities with skits and songs from community members at 7 a.m. today in the Sunland Golf & Country Club’s clubhouse.
Costumes are encouraged with tickets available at the door and in advance from Gateway Mortgage Group, First Federal (Sequim Avenue), Sound Community Bank and the Sequim Visitor’s Information Center. Cost is $10 per adult and $8 per child with breakfast included.
The Sequim High School Operetta’s “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” opens tonight at 7 in the Sequim High School auditorium with a $12 opening night special. It runs for three weekends at the school at 601 N. Sequim Ave.
Other events are free to attend over the weekend, including the Innovative Arts and Crafts Fair at the Sequim Civic Center Plaza, First Friday Art Walk and Family Fun Day.
Deon Kapetan, festival executive director, said interest in the first weekend continues to grow, especially in the Family Fun Day on Washington Street between Sequim Avenue and Second Avenue.
She said this year, 34 booths will offer child-oriented activities including s’mores made in the Dream Catcher balloon and a chance to interact with the high school’s robotics team.
At 1 p.m. children can make crowns with the festival’s royalty, too. The Kid Parade begins at 9 a.m. to start the Family Fun Day followed by an awards ceremony at 9:30 a.m. and actors in the operetta briefly performing at 9:45 a.m. at the Innovative Arts and Crafts Fair stage.
“The first weekend really helps kid to get ready for the second weekend so that they’d be more apt to get excited and participate in the Grand Finale Weekend for events like the Grand Parade,” Kapetan said.
Here is the schedule for the Crazy Callen Weekend:
Today
• 7 a.m. — Crazy Daze Breakfast, Sunland Golf & Country Club, 109 Hilltop Drive.
• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. — Olympic Peninsula Art Association Show, Sequim Civic Center, 152 W. Cedar St.
• 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. — Innovative Arts and Crafts Fair, Sequim Civic Center Plaza; First Friday Art Walk.
• 7 p.m. — “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” operetta, Sequim High School auditorium, 601 N. Sequim Ave.
Saturday
• 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Family Fun Day, downtown Sequim.
• 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. — Kids Parade, staging from 9 a.m. to 9:15 a.m., parade from 9:15 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and awards ceremony from 9:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. The parade will line up at Washington Federal, 191 W. Washington St., and go to the Innovative Arts & Crafts Fair Stage off Bell Street.
• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Driftwood Art Show, Pioneer Park, 387 E. Washington St.
• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Olympic Peninsula Art Association Show, Sequim Civic Center.
• 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Innovative Arts and Crafts Fair, Sequim Civic Center Plaza.
Sunday
• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Olympic Peninsula Art Association Show, Sequim Civic Center.
• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Innovative Arts and Crafts Fair, Sequim Civic Center Plaza.
Next week, the Grand Finale Weekend May 11-13, festivities continue with multiple events including the carnival, Logging Show in its 30th year and Grand Parade.
Kapetan said that this year’s Fun Run on Saturday, May 12, has an added 1-mile walk that happens at the same time as the 5k, which starts at 10 a.m. with registration at 8:30 a.m. in the JCPenney parking lot. The run follows the festival’s Grand Parade route along Washington Street. Cost is $30. For more information or to register, call 360-582-7039 or email get_results_cpt@yahoo.com.
Carnival wristbands are on sale now for unlimited rides at Sound Community Bank, KeyBank (Sequim/Port Angeles), Dungeness Kids Co., and the Visitor Information Center for $22 through May 9 and $27 at the event.
For more about the festival, visit www.irrigation festival.com.
Erin Hawkins/Olympic Peninsula News Groups Youths dressed in costumes march with Sequim Irrigation Festival Royalty and parents at last year’s Kids Parade in downtown Sequim. This year’s parade begins at 9 a.m. Saturday.
Last year’s Sequim Irrigation Festival Junior Royalty Malachi Byrne, left, stands with his brother Marcus Byrne dressed as a pilot who won first place during the Kids Parade for its “Storybook Theme.” Sequim Gazette file photo by Erin Hawkins
Caitlin Gerdes holds her dog Dell who won first place for the pet contest during the Sequim Irrigation Festival Kids Parade last year. Sequim Gazette file photo by Erin Hawkins
