Sequim’s hometown festival looks good at 120

Published 12:50 pm Wednesday, May 13, 2015

More photos!

See grand parade photos here.

See logging show and Strongman competition photos here.

See more from the first weekend of Irrigation Festival activities here.

The weather was great, the residents were happy and Sequim continued its streak hosting Washington’s oldest festival May 1-10.

Many of the Sequim Irrigation Festival’s events in its 120th year saw record attendance and more success in its two weekends said festival director Deon Kapetan.

“It went so well we might do it again next year,” she joked.

The Grand Parade on May 9, typically known for its long-running time and large gaps, finished in under two hours with 120 entries. Kapetan said parade director Eileen Cummings and the Sequim Noon Rotary organized a new system, “making it much easier to manage and limited the gaps more.”

The Car Cruzz Show at the Sequim Walmart, which started with a parade down Washington Street, saw record attendance with 185 entries. This year it included motorcycles and antique trailers.

The carnival at Sequim High School’s baseball/softball fields increased its revenue, too, which helps support the festival, Kapetan said.

“Even on Sunday, Mother’s Day, it was packed,” she said.

The only thing possibly working against the festival this year may have been it being too popular.

The logging show and expanded tractor pull were so popular that parking was difficult to find at times both Friday and Saturday. Kapetan said they’ll look in the next year for solutions to fix the parking problem.

The parade and logging show make up the festival’s Grand Finale Weekend while the previous weekend was Crazy Callen Weekend. Last year, organizers renamed the festival’s two weekends to credit the origins of the area.

“A lot of people don’t know Crazy Callen, which prompts a lot of people to ask about the history,” Kapetan said.

More people may be tuned into the festival’s draw soon as it is scheduled to appear on an upcoming segment of “Evening Magazine,” too.

“Our little town is not so secret anymore,” Kapetan said.

The Irrigation Festival royalty continues to represent Sequim through the summer tentatively at 13 more parades and events with the Port Townsend Rhododendron Festival next at 1 p.m. May 16.

Volunteers manage and operate the festival annually and help is welcome. Look for more information at www.irrigationfestival.com.