Glitz, glam and hometown pride flowed on Saturday night for the Sequim Irrigation Festival’s Kick-Off Dinner and Auction.

Now its 128th year, the festival opened on March 25 with the big reveal of the new royalty float before segueing into the dinner and auction inside 7 Cedars Casino. Organizers say they’re happy about the turnout and support for Washington state’s longest-running community festival.

“It was amazing; the energy was fantastic,” festival executive director Deon Kapetan said.

While tabulation continued as of March 26, Robin Bookter, the kickoff’s director for six years, said with about $35,000 raised from the live and silent auctions, the event surpassed organizers’ goal.

“It was great,” Bookter said. “The enthusiasm was different, and there seemed to be more energy.”

Following a Kentucky Derby theme, many supporters sported derby attire, including emcee James Castell.

Bookter said one part of the continued success of the festival’s kickoff is community support, such as Air Flo Heating Co. donating multiple cases of their wine from Blended Family Cellars, and ticket-goers bidding to “fund the float.”

A core of six volunteers have for months worked together on the dinner, the festival’s primary fundraiser for float expenses, clothing and royalty accommodations, Bookter said.

As the festival is a volunteer-run event, the kickoff and several sponsorships help pay for the festival’s many events over two weekends, May 6-13.

One major fundraiser, the carnival, won’t return for another year because carnival contractors are struggling to fill positions, Kapetan said.

“It’s a huge hole to fundraising, and a bummer, but we’re excited about all of our events (i.e. a Community Dance, Trashion Show, and more) … and the return of the (Classic Cruise and Show).”

Kapetan said many events both weekends will shift to Carrie Blake Community Park, and the car parade (May 13) will now start by the former JCPenney’s and go east on East Washington Street to gather on Center Park Way by Security Services Northwest.

The Grand Parade will remain the same route as years prior, Kapetan said.

Central to the parade will be the royalty float built by Guy Horton, David Blakeslee and John Riley. The float, based on this year’s theme “128 Out the Gate,” features an irrigation ditch with working water flow, rotating marquee, rolling mountainscape, and more.

Queen Pepper Reymond, princess Anne Marie Barni, prince Fred Cameron, and princess Paige “Skylar” Krzyworz saw and stood on the float for the first time on March 25 at the Kick-Off. They’ll trek across the state for most of the summer representing Sequim in parades and special events.

For more information about Irrigation Festival events, visit irrigationfestival.com.

Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / Sequim Irrigation Festival royalty (from left) prince Fred Cameron, princesses Anne Marie Barni and Skylar Krzyworz, and queen Pepper Reymond, perform their festival song for the first time, at the festival’s kickoff dinner and auction on March 25.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen / Dignitaries, volunteers and dinner attendees pose for festival photographer Keith Ross with Princess Skylar Kryzworz, Prince Fred Cameron, Princess Anne Marie Barni and Queen Pepper Reymond as they try out their float for the first time at the kick-off dinner and auction for the Irrigation Festival at the 7 Cedars Resort on March 25.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen / Dignitaries, volunteers and dinner attendees pose for festival photographer Keith Ross with Princess Skylar Kryzworz, Prince Fred Cameron, Princess Anne Marie Barni and Queen Pepper Reymond as they try out their float for the first time at the kick-off dinner and auction for the Irrigation Festival at the 7 Cedars Resort on March 25.