Whether you’re looking for a selfie, a snapshot for a wedding invite, or some scenic views, Sequim is the place to be this weekend.

Sequim Lavender Weekend on July 19-21 packs in dozens of events for people of all ages with plenty of photo opportunities. To lavender newcomers, this weekend features seasoned and newer farms, a Street Fair, live music, plenty of food, numerous festivals including the 23rd Sequim Lavender Festival, and of course more lavender than you can shake a lavender-infused wand at.

At Jardin du Soleil Lavender Farm, 3932 Sequim-Dungeness Way, Paul and Jordan Schiefen continue their tradition of offering photographs from Sequim High photography students. They’ll use your camera or phone to frame a shot of you with a picture frame in the lavender.

Last year, Michigan couple Nathan and Olivia Mckay snapped a photo for their save-the-date wedding announcement.

“There’s usually a line of people,” Paul Schiefen said of the photo-op.

Michigan couple Nathan and Olivia Mckay setup a photo-op at Jardin du Soleil Lavender Farm last year. The farm continues to offer free photos as part of its Jardin du Soleil Lavender Festival July 19-21. Sequim Gazette file photo by Erin Hawkins.

This Saturday, they’re also bringing in a Volkswagen bus to the farm for free photos decorated with a 1960s flare.

A few miles away at Kitty B’s Lavender Farm, 82 Cameron Acres Lane, co-owner Jeanette Bockelie said visiting photographers range from amateur to professionals during the Sequim Lavender Festival.

Last year, a photographer spent two days snapping shots in her fields, she said, and one photo was used in the “2019 Official Washington State Visitor’s Guide.”

Bockelie said she embraces having a smaller farm and sees it more of a garden.

“My aim is for people to have an experience here,” Bockelie said. “It’s a little slice of paradise.”

During last year’s Sequim Lavender Festival, Debbie Ferreria of Bellevue takes a selfie in the barn of Kitty B’s Lavender Farm. The farm reopens this weekend for the festival. Sequim Gazette file photo by Matthew Nash

In Carrie Blake Community Park, Debbie Madden, executive director of the Sequim Irrigation Festival, said photo-ops abound including a wood cutout with Dr. Lavender, with the real Dr. Lavender, aka Paul Jendrucko, at the live music on the LavenderStock stage, vehicles from Clallam County Sheriff’s Office, Clallam County Fire District 3, and more.

Madden said it’s not uncommon to see dogs dressed up in lavender-inspired wares, too.

But if you ask farmers and volunteers where to go for photos, they might tell you that you can’t go wrong whether you’re sitting in a giant chair (Olympic Lavender Farm) or with a beautiful inn behind you (Washington Lavender Farm) or among feathered friends (Nelson’s Duckpond & Lavender Farm).

Lavender Weekend overview

This weekend, 18 farms host events ranging from U-pick lavender to food and drinks to live music. Many are free to attend, three charge a small fee for entry, some only open this weekend while many remain open all summer. Washington Lavender Festival continues its 10-day festival from July 12-21.

Just prior to the start of the Washington Lavender Festival (which runs July 12-21), Valerie, Brady and Eric Largen of Huntsville, Ala., take a picture in a lavender field last week at Washington Lavender Farm. The family said they are on vacation and had to stop in a lavender field. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash

Here’s a quick rundown:

Sequim Lavender Festival Farm Tour open 10 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. all weekend. Cost is free.

• Blackberry Forest, 136 Forrest Road

• Earth Muffin Lavender, 2333 Woodcock Road

• Fat Cat Garden & Gifts, 21 Fat Cat Lane

• Graysmarsh Farm, 6187 Woodcock Road

• Kitty B’s Lavender Farm, 82 Cameron Acres Lane

• Meli’s Lavender, 62 W. Diane Drive

• Nelson Duckpond & Lavender Farm, 73 Humble Hill Road

• Peninsula Nursery, 1060 Sequim-Dungeness Way

• Troll Haven, 950 Gardiner Beach Road

More free admission farms:

• B&B Family Farm, 5883 Old Olympic Highway; open 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

• Lavender Connection, 1141 Cays Road; open 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

• Lost Mountain Lavender, 1541 Taylor Cutoff Road; open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Saturday, (till 5 p.m. Sunday)

• Martha Lane Lavender, 371 Martha Lane; open 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

• Sunshine Herb & Lavender Farm, 274154 U.S. Highway 101; open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (till 5 p.m. Sunday)

• Victor’s Lavender Celebration, 3743 Old Olympic Highway; open 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday

• Washington Lavender, 965 Finn Hall Road; open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (festival continues daily from July 17-21)

Pay to visit farms:

• Purple Haze Lavender’s Purple Haze Daze, 180 Bell Bottom Lane, starting at 10 a.m. for $15 pre-sale and $18 at the gate. One day pass $12. Children 12 and under are free. Purplehazelavender.com.

• Jardin du Soleil Lavender Festival, 3832 Sequim-Dungeness Way, and Olympic Lavender Festival, 1532 Marine Drive, two-for-one $10 admission per person to both farms all weekend. Children 12 and under free to enter. Free shuttle from Carrie Blake Community Park. www.jardindusoleil.com, Buylavender.com

Shuttles

A free shuttle runs to these three farms from the Sequim Civic Center, downtown Sequim, Sound Community Bank by QFC, and Carrie Blake Community Park.

Another shuttle operates 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday-Saturday, and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday from the Sequim Middle School, Sequim High School, Sequim Civic Center, Second Avenue/Washington Street, Carrie Blake Community Park, and Sound Community Bank by QFC.

Ellen Riddell sells Sequim Lavender Growers Association merchandise at the Sequim Lavender Festival street fair in 2017. The Street Fair continues at Carrie Blake Community Park for the second summer this weekend. Sequim Gazette file photo by Erin Hawkins

Street Fair in the Park

For its second year in Carrie Blake Community Park, Madden said they’ve added more parking, bigger shuttle buses and extra seating by the Sequim Lavender Festival’s Street Fair.

“We’ve made a lot of adjustments, and it’s going to feel more comfortable,” she said.

Festival organizers moved the Street Fair due to anticipated construction on Fir Street, which continues this year and possibly next.

The fair features more than 150 vendors with artists, nonprofits, SLGA booths and food court vendors along with music all three days from the James Center for Performing Arts for LavenderStock and a Street Dance at 7 p.m. Saturday with Black Diamond Junction.

The Street Fair runs 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. More information at www.lavenderfestival.com.

Other Sequim events:

• Art Jam 2018: 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Friday-Sunday, Rock Hollow Farm, 505 E. Silberhorn Road.

• Olympic Driftwood Sculptors: 10 a.m.-5p.m. Friday-Sunday, Sequim Middle School cafeteria, 301 W. Hendrickson Road.

• Sequim Farmers Market: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sequim Civic Center Plaza, 152 W. Cedar St.

• Sunbonnet Sue Quilt Show: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-3p.m. Sunday, Sequim Middle School, 301 W. Hendrickson Road.

More information:

For more information on all lavender weekend events, visit www.sequimlavenderweekend.com and look for the Sequim Gazette/Peninsula Daily News’ “Sequim Lavender Weekend” guide at all the farms, local businesses, the Visitor’s Information Center, and Street Fair Information Booth.

Soroptimists partner with vineyards

Soroptimist International of Sequim will sell Port Townsend Vineyards wine at the Lost Mountain Lavender Farm 1541 Lost Mountain Road as a fundraiser on Friday-Sunday, July 19-21.

Lavender lemonade, sangria, and Port Townsend Vineyards Discovery White and Red will be available along with lavender biscotti and scones, and lemon lavender cupcakes with proceeds supporting Soroptimist’s efforts to empower and support women and girls in Sequim and Clallam County. For more information, contact, membership@sisequim.org, write “Soroptimist International of Sequim, PO Box 126, Sequim, WA. 98382,” or visit http://sisequim.org/.

Reach Matthew Nash at mnash@sequimgazette.com.

Zac and Cat Romiski of Joint Base Lewis-McChord cut lavender for the first time at Lavender Connection during last year’s Sequim Lavender Weekend. They spent some time at a few farms, the couple said. Sequim Gazette file photo by Matthew Nash

Lucca Schiefen and her grandmother Barbara Brown of San Francisco ready sachets on Monday for a busy weekend of visitors to Jardin du Soleil Lavender Farm. The farm partners with Olympic Lavender Farm to host two festivals for the price of one July 19-21 during Sequim Lavender Weekend. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash