Just like the sun, Sequim turned out for the Irrigation Festival’s Grand Finale Weekend.
Organizers for the festival’s 123rd year say last weekend’s festivities on May 11-13 saw record numbers at most of its events.
“For the Grand Parade it was probably record numbers since I’ve been walking the float down the road,” said the festival’s Executive Director Deon Kapetan.
Look for the Gazette’s photos of the Grand Parade here and other events here.
“It was close to Marysville and Seafair (parades). It was that thick with people along the road, which tells me (the festival) isn’t an old-fashioned, unpopular thing. People still enjoy it.”
This year, judges selected Sequim High School’s Marching Band as the top band, and Chimacum High School in second and Port Angeles High School in third.
The Sequim Irrigation Festival remains Washington’s longest continuous festival and this year it celebrated 30 years of the Logging Show, which continued to host logging competitions, the Strongman Showdown, a fireworks show, truck and tractor pulling and much more.
Kapetan said its events were packed with people, too.
Randy Perry, organizer of the 15th annual Hot Rods & Harleys Show N’ Cruzz along Washington Street and at Walmart, said they saw a record 210 vehicles turn out.
“With the nice weather, drivers were tickled pink to get their cars in the show,” Kapetan said.
More than a dozen awards went out including Amos and Tammy Dale’s 1946 Chevy Fleetmaster winning Peoples’ Choice, and Crystal Schaumburg’s 1953 Chevy pickup winning Kids’ Choice.
For the Festival’s Fun Run 5k/1k, Kapetan said entries doubled in the last week and several more signed up prior to the event on May 12.
This year, organizers added a 1k walk/run, and Kapetan said they’ll likely see the event continue to grow.
For the 5k, Brandon Wagner, 14, finished first in 19:31.55 followed by Elisa Laverty, 22, in 20:10.17 and Colby Ellefsen, 12, in 22:04.83.
In the 1k, Max Ray Frankfurth, 11, finished in 6:35.28, followed by Alex Schmadeke, 13, in 6:36.12, and Adrian Brown, 13, in 6:36.99.
The carnival in the Sequim High School softball fields ended the festival for the year on Sunday and despite the nice weather, Kapetan said they made just a little over last year’s total.
“Normally, we have one or two rainy days but this year we were sunny on all of them,” she said. “The numbers weren’t up as much as I thought they’d be.”
Next to the Kickoff Dinner fundraiser, the carnival is the biggest moneymaker for the festival, which is run by all volunteers.
What’s next?
In the days and weeks following the festival’s two-week run, Kapetan said organizers consider how to improve the experience for visitors and locals.
“As more people learn about the festival, we determine how we can grow with the current volunteer base,” she said. “Everyone says it but we’re going to need more volunteers. The Rotarians, Soroptimists, Lions, Boys & Girls Club, Scouts, and all the service clubs get pulled in already.”
To volunteer, or for more information on the festival, email info@irrigationfestival.com or visit www.irrigationfestival.com.
In June, organizers plan to release the 124th festival’s tagline and storyline.
If you haven’t had enough of the festival, Sequim High School’s operetta “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” finishes its run this weekend at 7 p.m. May 17-19 at Sequim High School, 533 N. Sequim Ave. Advanced tickets available at https://shsoperetta.ludus.com.
The festival’s royalty and their float will be appearing in 15 parades this summer including Port Townsend’s Rhododendron Festival’s Grand Parade on May 19 and the Victoria Day Parade in Victoria, B.C. on May 21.
Reach Matthew Nash at mnash@sequimgazette.com.
Hot Rods & Harleys Show N’ Cruzz results:
People’s Choice: Amos and Tammy Dale’s 1946 Chevy Fleetmaster
Kids’ Choice: Crystal Schaumburg’s 1953 Chevy Pickup
Club Participation: Olympic Peninsula Rat Racers
Hard Luck: Lynie Staus
Best Street Rod Car/Pickup: Virginia Kostanich’s 1940 Chevy Sedan Delivery
Best Import Car/Pickup: Toby Clauson’s 1969 S.A.A.B.
Best Unfinished Car/Pickup: Don Tromble’s 1957 Chevy 3100 Truck
Best 1940-1970 Pickup: Joel and Sharon Clark’s 1968 Chevy C-10
Best 1970-Present Pickup: Dave Woodcock’s 2005 Chevy Ssr
Best 1900-1949: Sharla Smith’s 1949 Pontiac Silver Streak/Chieftain
Best 1950-1959: Bob Segui’s 1953 Nash Healey
Best 1960-1969: Steve Harwood’s 1961 Nash Metropolitan
Best 1970-1979: John Brockmueller’s 1972 Chevy Camero
Best 1980-Present: Bob Whitlock’s 2018 Lexus Lc500
Best Rat Rod: Dick James’ 1932 Ford Pickup
Best Muscle Car: Beno Crawford’s 2015 Chevy Camaro Ss/Rs
Best Pony Car: Pete Lewis’ 2008 Mustang Shelby Gt 500
Best Corvette: Jerry Johnson’s 2014 Chevy Corvette
Best Mopar: Phil Pignon’s 1970 Plymouth Convertible
Best Wagon: Rich and Jean Wyatt’s 1957 Chevy Nomad
Best V.W.: Ray Seller’s 1967 Convertible V.W. Bug
Best Custom: Steve Pillow’s 1937 Ford Coupe
Best Trailer: Ed Kelson’s 1937 Teardrop
Sports Car: George Esquiro’s 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback
Motorcycles:
Stock: Ivan Gerarde’s 2002 Harley Hertitage Classic
Custom: Jerry Mchaffin’s 1988 Harley Fxstc
Vintage: Kim and Bob Rumion’s 1948 Triumph Tiger 100
Fixer Upper: Tigger’s 1964 Harley Xlch
Motorcycles: Dwight Weathers’ 2000 Leipei Mini-Chopper
Sponsors: A2Z Fencing, Sunnyside Auto and Towing, Sequim Health & Rehab
Wynn and Ellie, 3, Hannam of Sequim get in rhythm with music in the Grand Parade. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash
Abel Lelle, Tanner Robins, Charlie the dog, and Keri Tucker ride in the Sequim FFA float in the Grand Parade on May 12. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash
James Castell serves up a hamburger to Dan Knutson of Sequim before the Grand Parade at Castell Insurance’s Client Appreciation Barbecue prior to the Grand Parade. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash
Nick Stewart and his daughter Kensington, 2 1/2, of Bonney Lake, ride as the last entry in the Hot Rods & Harleys Car Cruzz on May 12. Nick drove his dad Gary Stewart’s 1957 Chevy truck while Gary drove the 1979 Chevy C10 along Washington Street to Walmart for the car show. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash
For the 15th Hot Rods & Harleys Car Cruzz & Shine, 210 vehicles entered the show, which was a record, organizers said. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash
Blake Bacchus, 10, makes a throw in the ring toss as his brothers Nolan, 8, and Roman, 4, wait their turn at the carnival on May 12. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash
