Sturdy Irrigation Festival turns 130

Two weekends of events kick-off May 2

By Matthew Nash • April 30, 2025 2:30 am
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ The Sequim Irrigation Festival’s Trashion Show, seen here last year with Hillarie Strong of Port Angeles modeling Nancy Watts’ second place winner “Old School,” moves this year to the inside of the Guy Cole Event Center at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, May 3.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ The Sequim Irrigation Festival’s Trashion Show, seen here last year with Hillarie Strong of Port Angeles modeling Nancy Watts’ second place winner “Old School,” moves this year to the inside of the Guy Cole Event Center at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, May 3.

Updated May 1 with event clarification.

With the Sequim Irrigation Festival going into its historic 130th year as Washington’s longest running festival, organizers still find residents love its many offerings and traditions.

“It’s such a community effort,” said the festival’s executive director Michelle Rhodes.

“I can’t think of another festival that offers so much variety and is directly supported by the community.”

This weekend offers Crazy Callen Weekend May 2-4 with the Sequim High School’s operetta “Oklahoma!,” Family Fun Days, the Innovative Arts and Crafts Fair, and more. The following week, the Grand Finale Weekend May 8-11 features the Grand Parade, Classic Car Show, and even more. The Sequim Logging Show, now a separate nonprofit, runs the second weekend, too.

To the uninitiated, D.R. “Crazy” Callen was given his moniker for building irrigation ditches with James R. Grant, H. Hucksford and Captain Thomas Jones that brought water from the Dungeness River to farmland. The first river headgate was lifted on May 1, 1895, followed by the first Irrigation Festival held on May 1, 1896.

“This is an opportunity for the community to come together like they did 130 years ago,” Rhodes said.

With many people feeling divided in the national climate, she said the festival shows “there are things that we can definitely enjoy together.”

Organizers remain committed to keeping events at no charge to keep it accessible to everyone too.

The festival also continues operations as an all-volunteer organization with about 25 core volunteers, Rhodes said, who coordinate the many events with support from community and volunteer groups.

Its annual budget is about $160,000 that includes travel expenses for the royalty float that with its four teen royals spends much of the summer appearing at events and parades showcasing Sequim.

Rhodes said the float, a steampunk ship designed by Guy Horton, is “making a huge splash” and has already won second place at the Tacoma Daffodil Parade.

A float builder is needed for next year, she said, and organizers are seeking volunteers to help with set-up and parking support for the festival’s first weekend. Those interested can sign up under the “Volunteer” tab at irrigation festival.com. Each volunteer who does a four-hour shift receives an exclusive T-shirt.

Things to know

Organizers highlight a few changes made this year:

Run Series

Its run series has moved from the first to the second weekend so runners/walkers can go along the parade route, Rhodes said.

Events begin at 11 a.m. starting at the future home of the Shipley Center at 651 W. Washington St. The 5K will go to Shipley Center’s current location at 921 E. Hammond St. and back. A half-marathon will not be offered this year. To sign up for a 1-mile or 5K race, visit https://irrigationfestival.com.

Trashion Show

The Trashion Show, set for 5:30 p.m. Saturday, May 3, has been moved from outside to inside the Guy Cole Event Center.

Rhodes said they didn’t want weather to impact the show, and they wanted a more comfortable changing area for models. For the show, participants make outfits using at least 75% recycled materials.

It’s part of the Innovative Arts and Crafts Fair running 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. The First Friday Art Walk Sequim also takes place 5-8 p.m. in downtown Friday.

First weekend continued

Sequim High School presents “Oklahoma!” both weekends with shows at 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday, May 2-3, Thursday-Saturday, May 8-10, and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 4, 11. Tickets are available at the door or at sequim schools.org.

Music

Artists and performers are set to perform throughout May 3-4 at the James Center for Performing Arts Center’s bandshell. Black Diamond Junction headlines a community concert and dance at 6 p.m. Saturday, and the Sequim City Band at 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

Kids Parade

The Kids Parade starts at 11:30 a.m. Saturday with lineup beginning at 11:15 a.m. near the bandshell. 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 Murder Mystery begins at 9 a.m. Sunday in the Guy Cole Event Center.

Organizers said the event is appropriate for all ages, and tickets are available at the festival’s website, with some limited tickets available the morning of the breakfast.

Family Fun Days

Family-friendly events run throughout the weekend in Carrie Blake Community Park from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. Sunday. Some of the Saturday events include Touch-A-Truck, relay races, crowns and crafts booth, Storytime with the Queen, and more. Sunday hosts laser tag, Strait Up Foam Fun, yard games and scavenger hunts.

For a full schedule, registration and more about the festival, visit irrigation festival.com.

2025 Crazy Callen Weekend May 2-4

Friday, May 2

• First Friday Art Walk, 5-8 p.m. downtown Sequim

• Sequim High School Operetta “Oklahoma!” 7 p.m. Friday, Sequim High School, 533 N. Sequim Ave.

Saturday, May 3 (Carrie Blake Community Park)

• Family Fun Days, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

• Innovative Arts & Crafts Fair, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

• Entertainment, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. bandshell

• Kids Parade, 11:15 a.m. lineup, 11:30 a.m. start near bandshell

• Ribbon cutting, 12:15 p.m. bandshell

• Trashion Show, 5:30 p.m. Guy Cole Event Center

• Community concert with Black Diamond Junction 6 p.m. bandshell

• “Oklahoma!” 7 p.m. SHS

Sunday, May 5 (Carrie Blake Community Park)

• Crazy Daze Breakfast Murder Mystery, 9 a.m. Guy Cole Convention Center

• Family Fun Day, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

• Innovative Arts & Crafts Fair, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

• Various entertainment 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

• “Oklahoma!” 2 p.m. SHS

• Sequim City Band, 3-4:30 p.m.

Live entertainment

Saturday, May 4

• 9:30 a.m. Bread and Gravy

• 10:30 a.m. Jack Dwyer

• 12:30 p.m. Buck Ellard

• 1:30 p.m. Sequim Acrobatics

• 2:30 p.m. Kevin Magner & Scott Bradley

• 4 p.m. The Dance Center by Erica Edwards

• 6 p.m. Community Concert and Dance with Black Diamond Junction

Sunday, May 5

• 11 a.m. Buttercup Lane

• Noon Harmonica Pocket

• 1 p.m. Juan de Fuca Harmony

• 2 p.m. Queens & Aces

• 3:30 p.m. Sequim City Band

For a full schedule, registration, and more about the festival, visit irrigationfestival.com.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ The annual Kids Parade, pictured last year, returns to Carrie Blake Community Park on May 3 by the James Center for Performing Arts’ bandshell. Participants are asked to line up at 11:15 a.m. with the parade beginning at 11:30 a.m.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ The annual Kids Parade, pictured last year, returns to Carrie Blake Community Park on May 3 by the James Center for Performing Arts’ bandshell. Participants are asked to line up at 11:15 a.m. with the parade beginning at 11:30 a.m.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash Family Fun Day brings back Strait Up Foam Fun, pictured in 2023, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, May 4 to Carrie Blake Community Park along with laser tag and many other games.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash Family Fun Day brings back Strait Up Foam Fun, pictured in 2023, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, May 4 to Carrie Blake Community Park along with laser tag and many other games.