Smiles shine bright at sixth Sunshine Fest

Some Saturday sprinkles didn’t stop Sequim from enjoying the sixth-annual Sunshine Festival.

Organizers said the Sun Fun Color Run on the morning of March 8 was the largest in the event’s history with 622 participants for the 1K/5K events. This surpasses 2023’s previous high of 550 where participants run/walk/roll in and near Carrie Blake Community Park with color stations where volunteers spray cornstarch with Federal Drug Administration-approved dyes to color event shirts.

Once again, Firefly Drone Co. flew hundreds of illuminated drones for a Sequim-centric show at night with a shining New Dungeness Lighthouse, a shuffling crab, elk and more. For the show, the park was packed with people by the Guy Cole Event Center, pickleball courts and baseball/softball fields.

Friends Deedee Stevens and Terri Sagmoen, both from Sequim, said they’ve come to every show.

“It’s gotten better every year,” they said.

Festivities opened on Friday night with a welcome from Sequim Mayor Brandon Janisse, a ribbon cutting from the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce, and a social dance “Hooya Hooyay” from the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe.

Other events included speed cornhole and trivia, live music, including “Sunshine After Dark” with Supernostalgic playing 90s/2000s rock hits after the Interactive Light Experience by Ross Brown in the Pioneer Park Clubhouse, First Friday Art Walk, a pet costume contest, food trucks, vendors and more.

For race results, visit visitsunnysequim.com/307/2024-Sun-Fun-Color-Run.

Find information for 2026’s event at sequim sunshinefestival.com.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Brody Babcock, 3, and his grandma Terri Hauff of Port Angeles enjoy the start of the Illuminated Drone Show on Saturday night. For more photos from the sixth annual Sunshine Festival, see page B1.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Husband-and-wife Jessie Eggiman and Kelsie Mackey with son Atlas and dog Stitch make it through the last color run station with a dousing of color courtesy Sequim High Leadership and Interact Club members.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ People filled Carrie Blake Community Park on March 8th to watch the Illuminated Drone Show. It featured a lighthouse, elk and lots of weather-related images.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Chaz Bagley of Joyce carries his two-year-old daughter Magie through a color station much to her delight on March 8. Bagley said it was their first year and his wife and son ran the 5K.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Supernostalgic band members, from left, Branden Bettger, Jeremy Pederson and Sadie Sprenger perform a cover of No Doubt’s “I’m just a girl” during the Sequim Sunshine Festival. Also performing with the band were Adam Bettger and Michael Echternkamp.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Organizers of the Sun Fun Color Run said there were a record number of participants this year with 622.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Terri Sagmoen, left, and Deedee Stevens, both of Sequim, capture a portion of the Illuminated Drone Show on their phones. The friends said they’ve come to each show and that “it’s gotten better every year.”

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Matt and Lynette Wilson take a picture with Sherlyn Obermeit in a unicorn costume before the 1K Sun Fun Color Run on March 8.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Jackson Laboy makes his way through the final stretch of the 5K Sun Fun Color Run with a first place finish for all runners.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ A few people play cornhole as the crowd begins to disperse following the Friday night opening ceremonies of the Sunshine Festival at the Sequim Civic Center.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ The ribbon is cut for Sequim’s 6th annual Sunshine Festival at the Sequim Civic Center plaza with help from the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ Jamestown S’Klallam tribe members beat drums at Sequim’s Sunshine festival opening ceremony at the civic center the moves of the Hooya Hooyay dance.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ Jamestown S’Klallam tribe members teach the crowd at Sequim’s Sunshine festival opening ceremony at the civic center the moves of the Hooya Hooyay dance.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ The crowd at the opening ceremonies for Sequim’s Sunshine Festival on Fri. evening applaud for Jamestown S’Klallam musicians and dancers who are preparing to teach a celebratory dance.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ Sequim’s mayor Brandon Janisse speaks during the opening ceremonies for Sunshine Festival 2025.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ The sun begins its descent during the Sequim Sunshine Festival at Carrie Blake Park on Saturday.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ As is tradition, the sun played peekaboo with the clouds during Sequim’s Sunshine Festival, seen here outside the Entertainment Tent in Carrie Blake park.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ The pond at Carrie Blake park, usually filled with ducks, is mostly empty during the Sunshine Festival.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ During the Sunshine Festival, outside the Entertainment Tent at Carrie Blake Park citizens enjoy the mild weather.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ A pond at Carrie Blake Park is decorated with floating lanterns during Sequim's Sunshine Festival.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ During the Sunshine Festival, outside the Entertainment Tent at Carrie Blake Park citizens enjoy the mild weather.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ Designer Ross Brown’s Interactive Light Experience at the gardent clubhouse in Pioneer Memorial Park was enjoyed by a steady stream of visitors during the Sunshine Festival.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ 2025 Sunshine Festival poster artist Laura Papstein shares some of her art with visitors to the Guy Cole Center. For more of her art, go to lauragleasonart.com.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ Decorative lanterns in the pond at the Sunshine Festival.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ Kristy Quintero waits with Molly the pit bull to participate in the Pet Costume Contest during the Sunshine Festival. Molly went on to win first prize.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ Cameron Quinn and Casey Greenspane of Kalan Wolfe and the Shift dressed colorfully for the Sequim Sunshine Festival. The band played in the entertainment tent later that day.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ Kim Trenerry and Jason Mogi of Deadwood Revival perform in the Entertainment tent at the Sequim Sunshine Festival on Sat.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ Emma Jane Garcia introduces a band in the Entertainment tent at Sequim’s Sunshine Festival on Sat.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ Kalan Wolfe & The Shift got people dancing in the entertainment tent during the Sunshine Festival. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ Kalan Wolfe & The Shift got people dancing in the entertainment tent during the Sunshine Festival.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ Cameron Quinn dances with the tunes of Kalan Wolfe and the Shift in the Entertainment Tent at the Sunshine Festival.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ A young dancer watches Keely Crow-Ka of Kalan Wolfe & The Shift in the entertainment tent during the Sunshine Festival.