Hometown pride flows strong starting Friday for the first of two weekends of the Sequim Irrigation Festival.

With the tagline “122 Skies of Blue,” the festival from May 5-14 remains Washington’s longest running festival thanks to a dedicated group of volunteers.

Its first set of events under the banner Crazy Callen weekend features the Crazy Daze Breakfast, Kids Parade, Innovative Arts &Crafts Fair, Family Fun Day, Sequim High School Operetta “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” and the First Friday Art Walk.

• Crazy Daze Breakfast, 7 a.m. Friday, May 5, Sunland Golf &Country Club, 109 Hilltop Drive

• Innovative Arts and Crafts Fair, 5-8 p.m. Friday, May 5; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, May 6; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, May 7, Sequim Civic Center Plaza

• First Friday Art Walk, 5-8 p.m. Friday, May 5, Downtown Sequim

• “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” operetta, 7 p.m. Friday, May 5; 1 p.m. Saturday, May 6, Sequim High School Auditorium, 533 N. Sequim Ave. Tickets $10 opening night, and $10-$18 for other shows.

• Family Fun Day, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, May 6, Downtown Sequim

• Kids Parade, 9 a.m.-9:15 a.m. (staging), 9:15 a.m.-9:30 a.m. (parade), 9:30 a.m.-9:45 a.m. (awards ceremony) Saturday, May 6, meet first at Washington Federal, 191 W. Washington St. and go to the Innovative Arts &Crafts Fair Stage off Bell Street.

• Driftwood Art Show, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, May 6, Pioneer Park, 387 E. Washington St.

• Sequim Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, May 6, corner of Washington Street and Sequim Avenue, and Whimsy Park.

All events are free to attend aside from the operetta and Crazy Daze Breakfast.

Locals dress in costumes and perform skits for prizes at the breakfast to open the festival, which costs $10 per adult and $8 per child. 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 &Crafts Fair continues its theme focusing on “Reuse, Recycle and Repurpose” and it features demonstrations from different artists and groups all-day Saturday and Sunday.

Some of the highlights for the weekend include students from “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” performing some of the operetta at the arts and crafts fair at 9:45 a.m. Saturday, followed by live music both Saturday and Sunday.

Patrons also can preview the arts and crafts fair during the First Friday Art Walk from 5-8 p.m.

For drivers, Washington Street closes between Sequim Avenue and Second Avenue at 6 a.m. Saturday, May 7, and reopens later that evening. A portion of Cedar Street from Sequim Avenue to Seal Street will close through Sunday early evening,

Looking ahead

Next week, The Grand Finale Weekend May 12-14, continues with multiple events including the carnival, Logging Show, Hot Rods &Harley Show, Strongman Showdown, Grand Parade and more.

Registration information is available at www.irrigationfestival.com.

For the Fun Run on Saturday, May 13, the 5k and 1k start at 9:30 a.m. with registration at 8:30 a.m. in the JCPenney parking lot. The run follows the festival’s Grand Parade route along Washington Street and turns around at the Shipley Center. Cost is $30. For more information or to register, call 582-7036 or email get_results_cpt@yahoo.com.

Carnival wristbands are on sale now for unlimited rides at Sound Community Bank, KeyBank (Sequim/Port Angeles), Dungeness Kids Co., and the Visitor Information Center for $20 through May 11 and $25 at the event.

For even more about the festival, visit www.irrigationfestival.com. See the event’s program at www.sequimgazette.com/greeneditions.

Emma Rhodes and brother Greyson, both of Sequim, won prizes at last year’s Sequim Irrigation Festival Kids Parade. Staging for the event begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 6, in front of Washington Federal. Sequim Gazette file photo by Michael Dashiell

At left, Sophia Heistand of Discovery Bay finishes off 100 turns of the jump rope at last year’s Family Fun Day as Kerry Wyamn-Webb looks on. The Fun Day returns on Saturday, May 6, starting with the Kids Parade at 9 a.m. At right,Last year’s Irrigation festival princess Hailey Kapetan helps lead the Kids Parade in 2016. The parade is part of the festival’s Crazy Callen Weekend, which features an arts and crafts fair, the operetta, and more. Sequim Gazette file photos by Michael Dashiell

Submitted photo