Lavender festival weekend brings plenty to see and do
Published 11:30 am Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Whether they’re first timers or seasoned pickers, visitors during Sequim Lavender Weekend seem to love what farms, vendors, and the area offer.
Some visitors traveled from Georgia and Florida to take in the lavender fields for the first time, while friends Kendall Day and Dawn Hulstedt of Sequim cut lavender for bundles at area farms on July 18 for a fun day excursion. Hulstedt said it was her first time cutting lavender, while Day said it had been a number of years for her.
Mother and daughter Karli and Piper Connely recently moved to Sequim, and said they wanted to experience lavender during the special weekend, so at Old Barn Lavender Company Piper cut lavender for the first time during the festivities.
Alec Wilkins and Emiko Hope of Tacoma visited Lavender Connection for the first time on Sunday with Wilkins saying, “we had heard about it and had to come.”
“It really makes you want to come back,” he said. “We might have to make it an annual thing.”
Each year, variables for success by local farmers and weekend organizers include the weather, neighboring events, and traffic. Sequim saw moderate summer weather through the weekend with overcast mornings and sun in the afternoon.
“The weather was in our favor,” said Kelly Iriye, executive director of the Sequim Lavender Festival. “The afternoons have been sunny, which has been perfect for vendors.”
Information booths at Lavender Festival in the Park (Carrie Blake Community Park) recorded an estimated 3,600 people asking for info through the three days, she said.
The Sequim Lavender Growers Association hosted about 170 vendors in the park, and live music at the James Center for the Performing Arts.
Iriye said festival organizers redesigned the vendor space in the park and they’ve been happy with the changes.
“Foot traffic has improved,” she said.
Monica Gonzalez, co-owner of Meli’s Lavender Farm, said they saw an improvement in visitors and sales from last year’s festival in the park and at their farm.
“We are so blessed,” she said.
Joe Regalia, co-owner of Lit Lavender, a farm space formerly occupied by In Bloom Lavender Farm and Olympic Lavender Farm, said they were happy with the turnout early in the weekend as they had a consistent flow of about 10-20 vehicles visiting at a time.
Visitors, farms
Clallam County Fire District 3 staff report incidents were minimal at the park with minor injuries, such as a twisted ankle, bandages needed, and one non-life threatening incident for transport.
While there were constant streams of visitors during Sequim Lavender Weekend, some lavender farmers report that through the summer so far there’s been one past constant now missing: Canadians.
National media agencies continue to report on ongoing tension between the United States and Canada with the imposition of tariffs between the countries on goods.
Bruce McCloskey, co-owner of B&B Family Lavender Farm, confirmed they’ve seen few Canadians this summer.
“It’s a huge part of our business,” he said.
McCloskey said they anticipated fewer visitors due to less Canadians traveling, but he said it’s “been about normal.”
Amy Lundstrom, co-owner of Nelson’s Duckpond and Lavender Farm, said through her conversations with visitors she’s met only two people from Canada so far this summer.
Rick Olson, co-owner of Lavender Connection, said their farm traffic has been about normal but their typical tour bus visits from Canada were reduced during the weekend to a small bus with just over a dozen people.
His daughter Rebecca Olson, also a co-owner of Lavender Connection, confirmed a noticeable absence of visitors from Canada.
“We miss our Canadian friends,” she said.
Absent this year during Sequim Lavender Weekend was the Sunbonnet Sue Quilt Club’s show, and a handful of farms that either closed permanently or shifted to online sales, farm visits by appointment only, and/or hosting booths in the park.
Most farms remain open for different lengths into the summer and/or year. They are free to visit.
For more about Sequim Lavender Weekend and farms’ hours, websites and more, visit sequimlavenderweekend.com.
