The Sequim Sunshine Festival found its glow leading to a successful third year after some gray skies earlier in the week, organizers said.
“The weather was wonderful,” said Patsene Dashiell, the City of Sequim’s marketing coordinator. “We did the ribbon cutting at 5 p.m. and the skies cleared up. It was really a treat to have the sun show up for the Sunshine Festival.”
Not just the sun, but many people turned out for the festival March 4-5, including a sold-out Sun Fun Color Run, and thousands of viewers in and around Carrie Blake Community Park for the Illuminated Drone Show.
“The festival seemed like a very successful event and was well-attended,” Dashiell said.
Musical performers, vendors and participants seemed to enjoy it, she added.
Last year, COVID-19 limited gatherings for events, so only a few of the festival’s staples were running.
The Sun Fun Color Run’s 1k and 5k sold out the week prior at 530 participants, but organizers limited participant totals due to continued concerns for health regulations for the virus.
Dashiell said they tentatively plan to increase participant totals next year.
Firefly Drone Company’s show capped the end of the festival and brought strings of cars around the park to see the 15 minute presentation that included “Sequim” spelled out, the city’s logo, a giant spinning cube, and more.
A few other weekend events included Ross Brown’s Interactive Light Experience with new light sculptures at Pioneer Memorial Park, a Community Street Mural by Carrie Blake Community Park’s playgrounds that will remain in place for several months, a jam session at the Sequim Civic Center, First Friday Art Walk across the area on Friday night, and a few local musicians/bands jamming throughout Saturday afternoon.
Look ahead
Planning for the fourth Sunshine Festival (March 3-4, 2023) begins later this month when its committee gathers again, Dashiell said.
They’ll begin to seek formal feedback from vendors and musicians and see how they can expand offerings.
The city is evaluating how best to receive public input, and for now Dashiell can be reached at pdashiell@sequimwa.gov.
She said they’ll look to expand festival merchandise, including “glow bling,” glow sticks that was popular prior to the drone show.
Festival merchandise, including some signed prints of the logo will be available at the Sequim Visitor Information Center, 1192 E. Washington St.
Along with city staff and partner agencies and groups, 77 volunteers helped with the event.
For more information about volunteer opportunities and events, visit sequimsunshinefestival.com.
Tom Shindler sings and plays the banjo at the Gazebo in Carrie Blake Community Park for the enjoyment of Sequim Sunshine Festival participants on Saturday afternoon. Shindler played the guitar too, performing a series of sun-related songs for his solo set. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Charles Thompson, a 13-year-old from Port Angeles, shares his juggling skills with people using the bridge between the two sides of Carrie Blake Community Park during the 2022 Sunshine Festival on Saturday. Thompson says he has been practicing juggling for about 4 years. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
The Craig Buhler Quartet entertains the crowd at the Sequim Sunshine Festival. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Many dogs turned out for the Sunshine Festival this past weekend in Sequim; this one has a good seat for observation. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Many dogs turned out for the Sunshine Festival this past weekend in Sequim; this one has a good seat for observation. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Many dogs turned out for the Sunshine Festival this past weekend in Sequim; this one has a good seat for observation. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Many dogs turned out for the Sunshine Festival this past weekend in Sequim; this one has a good seat for observation. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen Looking like a rainbow herself, Ruth Korwel, 11, spreads colorful cheer on the asphalt of Carrie Blake Community Park as part of the “Community Art Street Painting Project.”
Suzy Killins of Rockin’ Rocks greets visitors at the Sunshine Market on Saturday. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Louanne Linder, John Riley and Linda Alders, volunteers at the Sequim Valley Lions’ food stand, raise money for the club’s general fund at the Sequim Sunshine Festival Market on March 5. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen Artist and author Mary B. Truly displays one of her publications at the Sunshine Market on Saturday. (For more about the artist/author, see marybtruly.com). Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Five-year-old Jordan Dix watches intently as a volunteer demonstrates how to put together a sun luminary at the “Let Your Little Light Shine Luminary Workshop” during Sequim’s third annual Sunshine Festival. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Sequim mayor Tom Farrell praises Barb Hanna, City of Sequim’s Communications and Marketing Director, for her work starting the Sunshine Festival three years ago. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe’s Mackenzie Grinnell explains “Why the Sun Always Shines in Sequim” at the Sequim Civic Center Plaza on March 4, helping kick off the third Sequim Sunshine Festival. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Russ Britton gets a splash of color from volunteers at the Sun Fun Color Run 5k Saturday morning at the Albert Haller Playfields just north of Carrie Blake Community Park. More than 500 participants were registered to run/walk 5k and 1k race. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell
Owen DeAngelo grins as he gets a touch of yellow at the last color station at the Sun Fun Color Run 5k Saturday morning at the Albert Haller Playfields just north of Carrie Blake Community Park. More than 500 participants were registered to run/walk 5k and 1k race. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell
Cade Moses of Port Angeles and (almost) 5-year-old Cameryn enjoy a splash of yellow at the last color station at the Sun Fun Color Run 5k Saturday morning at the Albert Haller Playfields just north of Carrie Blake Community Park. More than 500 participants were registered to run/walk 5k and 1k race. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell
Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell Runners and walker break from the start of the Sun Fun Color Run 5k Saturday morning at the Albert Haller Playfields just north of Carrie Blake Community Park. More than 500 participants were registered.
Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell Runners and walker break from the start of the Sun Fun Color Run 5k Saturday morning at the Albert Haller Playfields just north of Carrie Blake Community Park. More than 500 participants were registered.
Vocalist Amanda Bacon and Black Diamond Junction entertain the Sequim Sunshine Festival crowd at Carrie Blake Community Park on March 5. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell
Sequim mayor Tom Farrell cuts the ceremonial ribbon at the Sequim Civic Center Plaza on March 4, helping kick off the third Sequim Sunshine Festival. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell
Sequim artist Craig Robinson refreshes this mural, updating it from last year’s message of “Be the ‘i’ in Sequim” to “Spectacular Sequim” at Carrie Blake Community Park on March 5, as part of the 2022 Sequim Sunshine Festival. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell
Youngsters and adults alike enjoy the Community Street Mural Art Project at Carrie Blake Park on March 5, part of the 2022 Sequim Sunshine Festival. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell
Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell Attendees of the 2022 Sequim Sunshine Festival enjoy a colorful light display on a bridge at Carrie Blake Community Park on March 5, courtesy of light artist Ross Brown.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash Artist Ross Brown shows in his Interactive Light Experience how light influences additive color mixing, such as with blue and yellow making white rather than green with paint.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash Several stations at the Interactive Light Experience in Pioneer Memorial Park allowed visitors to manipulate light in different ways.
