The annual Sequim Irrigation Festival kick-off dinner, held Saturday, March 26, sold out for the first time in its history with approximately 190 attending the fundraiser. More than $12,000 was raised at the event through live and silent auctions, said festival chairman Deon Kapetan.

Traditionally, bidding on the four royalty members’ festival pins is a rapid-fire affair — which earned $2,050 toward the expenses involved in taking the royalty and their float to more than a dozen parades in Western Washington over the summer.

New this year was a VIP get-together of sponsors donating more than $1,000 before the unveiling of the “One Hundred and Sweet Sixteen” float featuring a cotton-candy colored carousel at 7 Cedars Casino in Blyn.

“I really liked the float unveiling and VIP sponsors event,” Kapetan said. “Overall, it turned out great and the fact that we sold out for the first time ever was very exciting.”

This year’s royalty court are Taylor Willis, queen; Marissa Haner, princess; Stephanie Laurie, princess; and Abigail Vidals, princess. Lynn Horton is the festival’s royalty coordinator and Tawana Borden organized the kick-off dinner.