The grand parade of the 115th Sequim Irrigation Festival was gratefully met with sunshine, blue skies and light winds on Saturday, May 8. More than 120 entries from elaborate royalty floats to big rigs were met with applause along the parade route on Washington Street. Like a wave, as representatives of the military branches passed, audience members stood and clapped. Seven school bands added to the festive atmosphere.

Festival honorees Bob and Elaine Caldwell, Dick Shaw, Irene Zeman Danforth, Art Boyd and Virginia Dickinson received warm greetings as they waved. Other dignitaries included Citizen of the Year

Tom Schaafsma, with his wife, Jacque; Mayor Ken Hays and festival chairman Joe Borden.
In the float competition, Pierce County’s Daffodil Festival won the Grand Sweepstakes award; Mason County’s Forest Festival took the Governor’s Award; and Port Townsend’s Rhododendron Festival won the Mayor’s Award.

The Rotary Club of Sequim (noon club) has organized the Irrigation Festival grand parade for the past 50 years. At the corner of Dunlap Avenue and Washington Street, parade coordinator Alice Beebe kept the procession on track.