SEQUIM — Traffic backups slowed visitors arriving to last weekend’s Sequim Lavender Festival, but there were no reported wrecks or long stops — just sluggish traffic backed up to Discovery Bay, said State Patrol and Lavender Festival representatives.
“We sold about the same number of tickets as last year, in the 30,000 to 35,000 range, but we’ve basically maxed out the highway,” said Scott Nagel, executive director of the festival.
Nagel and other festival representatives worked to have signs about the festival and possible delays placed along U.S. Highway 101 east to Discovery Bay, he said.
State Patrol also had extra patrols out, said Trooper Krista Hedstrom.
“The good thing was that the traffic did keep moving — even though they couldn’t go 55,” Nagel said.
“By now, locals should just know to avoid the highway during the festival.
“On a two-lane highway, there is just no avoiding it.”
The festival, now in its 14th year, was started by a group of farmers to celebrate the harvest, and it grew from there, said social media director Brigid Woodland.
A Beatles tribute concert by the Seattle group Creme Tangerine on Saturday night drew an especially large crowd, Nagel said.
“We had nearly 2,000 people there,” he said.
“It was a very special night that was completely free for those attending and will be an annual event at the festival.”
Traffic throughout Sequim was controlled by Sequim police with help from the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office.
“We did have a few requests for more traffic direction, but I don’t know if that would really speed people up,” he said.
Traffic on Sequim Avenue sometimes backed up from the Street Fair to the overpass at Highway 101.
The farms on the tour included Purple Haze, Jardin du Soleil, Olympic Lavender Farm, Cedarbrook Lavender & Herb Farm, Sunshine Herb & Lavender Farm and Lost Mountain Lavender.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsula dailynews.com.