by MATTHEW NASH
Sequim Gazette
Three-plus years into planning and nearly 100 years in development, Sequim’s Centennial Celebration is almost here with plenty of dancing, food and history-themed events to enjoy.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Karen Kuznek-Reese, Sequim city clerk and co-organizer of the celebration.
“It’s going to be a great community event that people are going to get behind.”
She and other city and community volunteers have put together a year’s worth of entertainment and events to honor the city being incorporated in October 1913. Festivities officially start on Saturday, Oct. 27, this year, with a pancake breakfast at the Sequim Prairie Grange, from 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
A dinner follows that night at Holiday Inn Express and Conference Center (details to come).
Nearly 20 events make up the list of events and Kuznek-Reese said the committee is not actively looking to add to its list of events but if the right opportunity came along, they might add more.
Several events partner with the centennial: The Museum & Arts Center’s photo/art exhibit in November 2012, a barn dance July 20, 2013, and Olympic Theatre Arts’ melodrama Aug. 2-4, 2013.
The Centennial Old-Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration features the Sequim City Band, including food booths and games of horseshoes, pickup softball, sack races, beanbag tosses, arm wrestling and a beard-growing contest.
There won’t be fireworks because organizers don’t want to compete with Port Angeles’ fireworks display.
Kuznek-Reese said they plan to focus more attention on the weekend events including a First Friday Street Dance during the First Friday Art Walk in downtown Sequim.
The city’s Music in the Park hosts its Sequim’s Got Talent again (Aug. 20-21) because it was well-attended, Kuznek-Reese said.
Another unique activity sends Sequimites searching at a geocache event (Nov. 17, 2012). Those who find all the caches go back to Pioneer Park to receive a gold centennial coin.
Donations and ticket sales from events all go to cover costs of Centennial events.
The yearlong event wraps up Nov. 2, 2013, at the 7 Cedars Casino with a bash that Kuznek-Reese said should be the largest of all the events.
A few projects remain in development, for example a project in which people paint a tile with their interpretation of Sequim in the past, present and/or future. Kuznek-Reese has set a goal of 1,000 tiles to be painted for displays possibly across the city and on the Olympic Discovery Trail.
Organizers need help with an art show for Sequim students celebrating the centennial, too.
The last event Kuznek-Reese looks to include is a concert by a nationally known band as a special one-night musical event. Centennial products are for sale at the city hall, 152 W. Cedar St., and Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce, 1192 E. Washington St. Sponsorships are needed to help with specific events, too.
For more information on Sequim’s Centennial, contact Karen Kuznek-Reese at 681-3428 or kkuznek@
sequimwa.gov, or visit www.sequim wa.gov.
