Sequim Gazette staff
Kicking it off with the Crazy Daze Breakfast on Friday morning, the Sequim Irrigation Festival’s first weekend is upon us.
Washington’s longest running festival goes May 6-15 for its 121st year. Organizers say a few changes are in store but most of the traditions that make it a must-see event for family and friends continue on.
This Friday-Sunday, Crazy Callen Weekend, named after D.R. Callen who helped convince locals to irrigate the area using uphill techniques, features Family Fun Day, Kids Parade, Innovative Arts and Crafts Fair, First Friday Art Walk, Driftwood Art Show, Sequim Farmers Market opening and the first weekend of the Sequim High operetta “Cinderella.”
• Crazy Daze Breakfast, 7 a.m. Friday, May 6, Sunland, 109 Hilltop Drive
• First Friday Art Walk, 5-8 p.m. Friday, May 6, Downtown Sequim
• Kids Parade, 9 a.m. Saturday, May 7, meet at Washington Federal, 191 W. Washington St.
• Sequim Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, May 7, northeast corner of Washington Street and Sequim Avenue
• Family Fun Day, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, May 7, Washington Street between Sequim Avenue and Second Avenue
• Driftwood Art Show, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, May 7, Pioneer Park, 387 E. Washington St.
• “Cinderella” operetta, 7 p.m. Friday, May 6, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, May 7, Sequim High School Auditorium, 533 N. Sequim Ave.
• Innovative Arts and Crafts Fair, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, May 6, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, May 7, Cedar Street and Sequim Civic Center Plaza
Free for the taking
All of these events, except “Cinderella” and Crazy Daze are free to attend.
Crazy Daze Breakfast costs $10 per adult and $8 per child with awards given to the best skits and costumes encouraged. Tickets are available at the door or in advance from Cherry Creek Mortgage, First Federal’s Sequim branches, Sound Community Bank and the Visitor Information Center.
The Innovative Arts and Crafts Fair, in its 26th year, moved from Bell Street to the Civic Center and Cedar Street for safety reasons and to better connect the downtown events, Festival Executive Director Deon Kapetan said.
Its theme includes recycling, reusing and repurposing with demonstrations both days and a showcase/contest in categories of apparels, housewares and toys/tools. Applications are available online for the contest.
At the art walk, patrons can preview the fair the night before the event officially opens. Visitors also can take a photo of themselves as Sid, the festival’s mascot, in a wood cutout.
For the Kids Parade, children and families gather at 9 a.m. at Washington Federal before walking around the Family Fun Day street fair at 9:15 a.m. Prizes will be given afterward.
Live entertainment continues at the fair and Fun Day both days.
And more …
For the Innovative Arts and Crafts Fair and First Friday Art Walk, Cedar Street will close at 11 a.m. Friday, May 6, from Sequim Avenue to Second Avenue except for event traffic. Access will be available to the disabled parking at City Hall only. Seal Street also will be closed from Cedar Street to the alley during this time. Seal Street and Cedar Street reopen at 6 p.m. Sunday, May 8.
For the Family Fun Days, Washington Street closes between Sequim Avenue and Second Avenue at 6 a.m. Saturday, May 7, and reopens at 6 p.m.
Finally …
The following weekend, The Grand Finale Weekend, continues with multiple events as well, including the carnival, Sequim History Walking Tour, Logging Show, Truck and Tractor Pull, Strongman Showdown, fireworks, golf tournament, Fun Run, Car Show and Cruzz, and Grand Parade.
Kapetan said the parade likely will reach its capacity of 120 entries.
Carnival wristbands are on sale now for unlimited rides through May 11 at Sound Community Bank, KeyBank (Sequim & Port Angeles) and the Visitor Information Center.
For more information on the festival, visit www.irrigationfestival.com and see the event’s program at www.sequimgazette.com/green_editions.
