With fun for all-ages, Washington state’s oldest, longest, continuous-running festival — the Sequim Irrigation Festival — returns this weekend for its 129th year. Spread across two weekends, Crazy Callen Weekend is up first May 3-5 with activities mostly in Carrie Blake Community Park, followed by the Grand Finale Weekend May 9-11, including the Grand Parade on May 11.
The first weekend recognizes D.R. “Crazy” Callen and the work he, James R. Grant, H. Hucksford and Captain Thomas Jones did — despite detractors calling Callen initially “crazy” — to create the irrigation ditches to bring water from the Dungeness River to farmland. The first river headgate was lifted on May 1, 1895, and the first festival celebration was held on May 1, 1896.
Organizers highlighted some new changes and returning favorites for the first weekend.
Live music
Joy in Mudville headlines Saturday night’s concert and dance from 7-9 p.m. with artists/performers on stage from 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sunday. Find a full schedule at irrigationfestival.com/site/event/entertainment.
Kids Parade
The Kids Parade brings children 12 and younger around Carrie Blake Community Park starting at 11:30 a.m. Saturday. Lineup begins at 11:15 a.m. near the southwest corner of the Albert Haller Playfields.
Prizes are awarded for Best Cartoon/Storybook Character, Best Pet Entry, Best Mini Floats, All About Sequim — any person, place, or thing, current or historical, that represents Sequim, and Grand Prize.
Crazy Daze
The Crazy Daze Breakfast becomes a Whodunnit special event at 9 a.m. Sunday in the Guy Cole Event Center.
Advance tickets can be purchased for $15 for adults and $5 for children at irrigationfestival.com/site/event/crazy-daze-breakfast/, or at the door for $20 per adult and $7 per child.
Family Fun Days
From 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sunday, activities for children will be available in Carrie Blake Community Park.
Some of the Saturday events include Touch-A-Truck (first responder vehicles), relay races, crowns and crafts booth, cupcake walk, Storytime with the Queen, and more.
Sunday features laser tag, Strait Up Foam and more with activity booths, yard games and scavenger hunts available both days.
Trashion Show/ art events
The Trashion Show returns for a second year at 5:45 p.m. Saturday at the James Center for Performing Arts’ bandshell. Participants are encouraged to bring any outfit created from at least 75% recycled materials. An encore show takes place at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 12, at Studio Bob in Port Angeles.
Organizers said they anticipate a much bigger show than last year and it is part of the Innovative Arts and Crafts Fair running 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. in the park.
First Friday Art Walk Sequim also takes place 5-8 p.m. across downtown Sequim on Friday, with an “aqua” color theme.
Run/walk series
The festival’s 1-mile and 5k races start and finish from Carrie Blake Community Park on Saturday, May 4, starting at 9 a.m. The 5k is a timed event.
The half marathon is set for 8 a.m. on Sunday, May 5, starting at Gardiner Community Center, and finishing at Carrie Blake Community Park. Fees apply to race. Visit irrigationfestival.com/site/event/irrigation-festival-fun-run to register.
Operetta
Sequim High School hosts “The Addams Family” musical from 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, May 2-4, and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 5 with a costume contest. It continues the following weekend with shows 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, May 9-11. Tickets available at the door or at sequimschools.org.
Parking
Public parking will be on city streets or by donation on the property in the lot behind Trinity United Methodist Church.
For a full schedule, registration and more about the festival, visit irrigationfestival.com.
2024 Crazy Callen Weekend May 2-5
Thursday, May 2
• “The Addams Family” musical, 7 p.m. Thursday, May 2, Sequim High School, 533 N. Sequim Ave.
Friday, May 3
• First Friday Art Walk, 5-8 p.m. downtown Sequim
• “The Addams Family” musical, 7 p.m. SHS
Saturday, May 4 (Carrie Blake Community Park)
• Family Fun Day, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Innovative Arts & Crafts Fair, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Run Series 1-mile, 5K, 9 a.m.
• Entertainment, 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. bandshell
• Kids Parade, 11:15 a.m. lineup, 11:30 a.m. start near bandshell
• Trashion Show, 5:45 p.m. bandshell
• Community concert with Joy in Mudville 7-9 p.m. bandshell
• “The Addams Family” musical, 7 p.m. SHS
Sunday, May 5 (Carrie Blake Community Park)
• Run Series Half Marathon, 8:30 a.m., Gardiner Community Center
• Crazy Daze Breakfast Whodunnit, 9 a.m. Guy Cole Convention Center
• Sequim Bay Yacht Club Opening Day, 9:30 a.m. Sequim Bay
• Family Fun Day, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
• Innovative Arts & Crafts Fair, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
• Various entertainment 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
• “The Addams Family” musical, 2 p.m. SHS
• Sequim City Band, 3-4:30 p.m.
For a full schedule, registration, and more about the festival, visit irrigationfestival.com.
Sequim Gazette file photo by Emily Matthiessen/ Joy in Mudville returns to play the Irrigation Festival’s community concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 4 at the James Center for Performing Arts.
Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / Runners and walkers in the Sequim Irrigation Festival 5k on May 6 break from the starting line. Various runs/walks take place May 4-5 with the festival.
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen / In the festival’s first annual Trashion Show, Cherie Hendrickson modeled the winning dress, designed by Cherry Bibler. The event returns 5:45 p.m. Saturday, May 4 to the James Center for Performing Arts during the Sequim Irrigation Festival. Organizers anticipate a much larger show, they said.
Sequim Gazette file photo by Matthew Nash Strait Up Foam Fun, seen here in 2023, returns to Carrie Blake Community Park on Sunday, May 5 for Family Fun Days so children can play in the eco-friendly, biodegradable foam.
