Washington Lavender extends its festival experience to 10 days

By Matthew Nash • July 10, 2019 1:30 am
Ruslana Chernetska of Mountlake Terrace cuts lavender at Washington Lavender Farm near the George Washington Inn in 2017. This summer, the farm extends its free festival to 10 days from July 12-21. Sequim Gazette file photo by Matthew Nash
Ruslana Chernetska of Mountlake Terrace cuts lavender at Washington Lavender Farm near the George Washington Inn in 2017. This summer, the farm extends its free festival to 10 days from July 12-21. Sequim Gazette file photo by Matthew Nash

Washington Lavender Festival

Where: 965 Finn Hall Road, Port Angeles (halfway between Sequim, Port Angeles)

When: July 12-21

Cost: Free to attend

Includes: Vendors, food, events, U-pick lavender, more daily

Full details: Visit facebook.com/walavenderfestival or www.georgewashingtoninn.com

Note: Sign-up for the Inn’s annual tea July 12-14 through the inn’s website. Fees apply.

More info: Call 360-452-4877 or visit walavender.com

So much is happening during Sequim Lavender Weekend that Dan and Janet Abbott, co-owners of Washington Lavender Farm and George Washington Inn, want to extend the festival experience for visitors even more.

That’s why for the second year they’ve extended their Washington Lavender Festival to 10 days, set for July 12-21, at 965 Finn Hall Road in Port Angeles.

“We were told the year before (we extended the festival) that it took people four hours to get here from the Hood Canal Bridge (due to traffic),” Janet Abbott said.

“Lavender is not necessarily just on one weekend. Lavender is an all-summer experience and we wanted to allow them a festival-like experience on more than one weekend.”

Some of the farm’s many vendors stay all 10 days, some for one weekend or some both, she said.

“We may not have had quite as many people the first weekend as the second, but our vendors and visitors loved it,” she said.

Last summer, Alex and Sara Lehmann of California visit Washington Lavender Farm for the first time and take a look out at the Straits of Juan de Fuca. The farm opens its U-pick lavender for the summer on July 12, the first day of its 10-day Washington Lavender Festival. Sequim Gazette file photo by Erin Hawkins

Last summer, Alex and Sara Lehmann of California visit Washington Lavender Farm for the first time and take a look out at the Straits of Juan de Fuca. The farm opens its U-pick lavender for the summer on July 12, the first day of its 10-day Washington Lavender Festival. Sequim Gazette file photo by Erin Hawkins

The Abbotts open their lavender U-pick the first weekend of their festival on July 12 along with an array of activities like crafts, food such as lavender ice cream, speakers — including lavender expert Victor Gonzalez at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 13 — and more.

The Inn hosts an Afternoon Tea at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., July 12-14, with spots available for Friday and Sunday through the festival’s website. Fees apply and can be paid online or if seats are available, on a first-come, first-served basis.

Events and many vendors carry through the week into Sequim Lavender Weekend, July 19-21, with beekeeping demonstrations, crafts for all-ages and more.

Steve Lyon, Director of Field Research, plant breeder and agronomist with the Washington State University Bread Lab, returns to speak about growing heritage grains and using them with culinary lavender for baking.

Janet Abbott said the farm features more than 5,000 lavender plants with some planted more than 10 years ago. They use Folgate lavender and royal velvet lavender for cooking in the inn while the farm’s shop, which opened in 2011, features several items from the farm’s lavender ranging from cooking additives to lotions.

Admission to the farm is free during the festival and all summer except during the Northwest Colonial Festival, Aug. 8-11.

Charles and Margaret Upshaw of Steilacoom walk their dog Woofie at Washington Lavender Farm to see the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The couple said they enjoyed seeing the lavender farm and the Sequim area so much last week they plan to bring visitors with them back to the area. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash

Charles and Margaret Upshaw of Steilacoom walk their dog Woofie at Washington Lavender Farm to see the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The couple said they enjoyed seeing the lavender farm and the Sequim area so much last week they plan to bring visitors with them back to the area. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash

Janet Abbott said they and other lavender farmers hope people come throughout the summer rather than just in one weekend. Washington Lavender Festival begins a five-week streak for the Abbotts where they host a number of events starting with their festival, followed by the Hymn Sing by the Sea on July 27, the Tour de Lavender on Aug. 3 and the Colonial Festival.

For more information about the farm/inn’s events, visit www.facebook.com/walavenderfestival, walavender.com, or georgewashingtoninn.com.

For more information about Sequim lavender farms, visit sequimlavender.org.

For more about Sequim Lavender Weekend, visit visitsunnysequim.com/166/Lavender-Weekend.

Reach Matthew Nash at mnash@sequimgazette.com.

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. The farm begins its Washington Lavender Festival July 12-21. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash

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. The farm begins its Washington Lavender Festival July 12-21. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash

Milana Tishina of Renton, runs through Washington Lavender Farm’s fields in 2017 for the first time. Visitors can come to the farm and experience its festival.

Milana Tishina of Renton, runs through Washington Lavender Farm’s fields in 2017 for the first time. Visitors can come to the farm and experience its festival.