NOTE: “Today” and “tonight” refer to Friday, May 8.
SEQUIM — The grand finale weekend of the 2015 Sequim Irrigation Festival will include fireworks, tractor pulls, a carnival, a logging show, a grand parade and other activities today through Sunday.
The theme for the 120th annual festival is “120 Fun a Plenty.”
Deon Kapetan, director of this year’s Sequim Irrigation Festival, said she anticipates a “fantastic” conclusion to the festival “because we are going to have awesome weather.”
According to the National Weather Service, the Sequim area can expect mostly sunny days with high temperatures in the high 60s to low 70s through Sunday.
Kapetan said she expects up to 10,000 people to participate in the various events throughout the weekend.
Boon for area
That participation is a tremendous boon for local businesses and culture, she added.
“We do have a lot of people who come into town to watch their grandkids in the parade and stuff like that. We do pull in some tourists,” she said.
Kapetan encourages locals to come out, too.
“Come out and enjoy the festival,” she said. “There is something for everybody.”
Today, the last weekend of the annual festival will kick off at noon with the 27th annual Logging Show at the Blake Avenue lot, located just behind QFC at 990 E. Washington St.
The show includes a truck and tractor pull, lawn mower races, an early time gas engine display, food and arts and crafts.
The event is free to the public.
At 1 p.m. today, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula will sponsor their 24th annual Golf Tournament at SunLand Golf & Country Club in conjunction with the Irrigation Fest.
The tournament is free to spectators.
The luncheon for past Irrigation Festival royalty will be at 3 p.m. today at the Oak Table, 292 W. Bell St.
Sequim Arts, an organization of more than 150 artists living on the Olympic Peninsula, sponsors today and Saturday its 38th annual Fine Arts Exhibit at the Museum & Arts Center in the Sequim-Dungeness Valley, 175 W. Cedar St.
From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today, the Strongman Showdown will be held at the Logging Show venue.
International strongman competitors will compete in axle lift, arm-over-arm truck pull, log press, tire flip, stone stack, dead-lift and car lift events.
The showdown is free to spectators.
High school operetta
Performances of the Sequim High School operetta “Fiddler on the Roof” are set for 7 p.m. today and Saturday at the high school auditorium, 601 N. Sequim Ave.
Tickets are $10 for children, students with ASB cards and seniors 65 and older; $12 for general admission; and $15 for premium seats.
All balcony seats are $10.
They can be purchased via www.SHSoperetta.org and, if available, at the door up to 45 minutes before curtain.
From 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., a carnival will be held at Sequim High School’s Green Field, located at 601 N. Sequim Ave.
The carnival will continue both Saturday and Sunday.
Armband tickets will be $25 each at the carnival. Those who purchase an armband ticket will be able to redeem it for the armband any day of the carnival.
Fireworks
At 9:30 p.m. today will be the eighth annual fireworks display at the Blake Avenue lot.
From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, the logging show at the Blake Avenue lot continues.
Also at 10 a.m. Saturday, the River Center Run will begin.
It starts at the J.C. Penney parking lot at Seventh Avenue and Washington Street and ends at the same location.
This is an hourlong run that will take place along the Grand Parade route.
Participants can sign up online at http://tinyurl.com/PDN-rivercenterrun through 5 p.m. today.
The race fee is $25 with an additional $2.50 sign-up fee.
At 10:45 a.m. Saturday, classic cars, hot rods and motorcycles will make their way down Washington Street from Dunlap Avenue to the Walmart Supercenter at 1110 W. Washington St. during the Car Cruzz.
Grand Parade
The 120th Irrigation Festival Grand Parade will follow at noon.
The parade will include local pioneer families, floats from around the state, marching bands, community groups, businesses and more.
Also at noon, the Car Show n’ Shine will begin in the Walmart Supercenter parking lot.
During the event, classic car owners will compete for prizes.
After the grand parade, MAC personnel will offer festival-goers a chance to learn the Maypole dance at the Logging Show.
Guests will be offered a ribbon position and walked through the pattern.
The Maypole dance was a longtime tradition of the festival.
On Sunday, the carnival will be the last event of the festival. It will be held from noon to 5 p.m.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
