With double the drones, added activities and hopefully clearer skies than the days preceding it, the Sequim Sunshine Festival returns for its fourth year of activities on Friday and Saturday, March 3-4.

The annual event serves as a springboard into Sequim’s tourism season and features fun activities for all ages across Sequim, including the popular drone show on Saturday night.

If you’re wondering why the festival is held this time of year, Sequim communications and marketing director Barbara Hanna said it developed as an idea to draw people in during a slower time of year and highlight Sequim’s best asset — sunshine.

“We’ve made it clear in messaging that we can’t guarantee [sunshine], but the odds are good,” she said.

Despite limited events in its second year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hanna said she and fellow organizers have been pleased seeing the festival grow.

“It tells me the community appreciates there is something to do this time of year,” she said.

What’s happening?

• Drone show: Firefly Drone Company returns with 200 drones, rather than 100 in previous years, to perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 4, for a 15-minute show above Carrie Blake Community Park, 202 N. Brown Road.

Hanna said the extra drones mean more elaborate configurations exclusive to Sequim’s show with no additional cost to the City of Sequim. Synchronized music will accompany the drones. Those watching from a distance can listen along via KSQM FM 91.5, who will broadcast the music live.

The show is weather dependent, and contingencies are in place if there’s inclement weather, Hanna said.

• Sun Fun Color Run: Spots for the Sun Fun Color Run’s 1K and 5K races remain open, with sign-ups for all ages at runsignup.com/Race/WA/Sequim/SunFunColorRun.

Races begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 4, at Carrie Blake Community Park, and feature color stations along the course for runners, walkers and strollers. Entrants receive a T-shirt, race bib, medal, sunglasses, towel and a color blast bag.

• Opening night: The festival officially opens at 5 p.m. Friday, March 3 at the Sequim Civic Center, 157 W. Cedar St., with the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce hosting a ribbon cutting. Members of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe will share the “Welcome” song and the story of “Why the Sun Always Shines in Sequim.”

Friday also continues the traditional First Friday Art Walk in downtown Sequim from 5-8 p.m. (SequimArtWalk.com) with an open jam session from 5-7 p.m. on the Sequim Civic Center Plaza.

The Navy Northwest Band (rock) plays a free show from 7-9 p.m. in Olympic Theatre Arts, too, at 414 N. Sequim Ave.

• Interactive Light Experience: Artist Ross Brown brings back his interactive light stations 5-8 p.m. Friday, and noon-6:30 p.m. Saturday, at Pioneer Memorial Park, 387 E. Washington St. The stations allow users to reflect, absorb or transmit light with switches and dimmers.

Brown said he’s created two new interactive viewing stations, made some new light art pieces for inside and outside the event, and he plans to bring back his lighted sandbox.

“[The Sunshine Festival] energizes residents and gets people out,” he said.

Clallam County PUD also hosts a pedal power bike generator setup from noon-6 p.m. Saturday in Pioneer Park, and from 1-4 p.m. artist Janine Miller offers banner flags, paper lanterns and floral headbands for the “Let Your Light Shine” luminary workshop.

• Saturday events: Music, food, beverages and goods are offered throughout Saturday at Carrie Blake Community Park, starting with the opening of the Sunshine Market at 10 a.m. in and around the Guy Cole Event Center, with 20-plus vendors, and a beer and wine garden offered by the Sequim Valley Lions Club.

Multiple nonprofits will also set up child-friendly activities around the park with a street mural available to use brushes, paint and stencils.

Music starts at noon in the park with Tom Shindler, Black Diamond Junction, Free Rangers, and Kalan Wolfe & The Shift playing back-to-back.

Future

Hanna said the festival continues to work towards breaking even as it’s continued to be funded through the city’s Lodging Tax fund.

The event saw increased sponsorships this year, and an increase in vendor and musician applications, she said.

With a growing number of corporate sponsors and interested ones, Hanna said they look to incorporate more for 2024’s events.

Volunteers can also continue to sign up for the event at Visitsunnysequim.com.

Find more about the festival at visitsunnysequim.com/263/Sequim-Sunshine-Festival.

Sunshine Festival schedule:

Friday, March 3

• 5 p.m. Ribbon Cutting and Heritage Presentation by the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, Sequim Civic Center Plaza, 152 W. Cedar St.

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

• 5-7 p.m. Open Music Jam session, Sequim Civic Center

• 7-9 p.m. Navy Northwest’s Popular Music Group (rock), OTA, 414 N. Sequim Ave.

Friday-Saturday, March 3-4

• 5-8 p.m. Friday; noon-6:30 p.m. Saturday, Interactive Light Experience, Pioneer Memorial Park, 387 E. Washington St.

Saturday, March 4

• 10 a.m. Studio360 Dance Company performs “Peter & The Wolf” at James Center Band Shell

• 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Family-friendly activity stations in Carrie Blake Community Park

• 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunshine Market, Guy Cole Event Center, 202 N. Blake Ave.

• 10 a.m.-dusk, Community Street Mural Project, Carrie Blake Community Park

• 11 a.m. Sun Fun Color Run, Albert Haller Playfields at Carrie Blake Park

• Noon-1:30 p.m. Tom Shindler, Gazebo at Carrie Blake Community Park

• Noon-6 p.m. PUD Energy Generating Bicycle & EV Car exhibit, Pioneer Park

• Noon-7:15 p.m. Beer and Wine Garden sponsored by Sequim Valley Lions, outside Guy Cole Event Center

• 1-4 p.m. Let Your Little Light Shine Luminary Workshop, Pioneer Park

• 1:35-3:35 p.m. Black Diamond Junction, Picnic Shelter by Guy Cole Event Center

• 4-5:30 p.m. Free Rangers, at Gazebo

• 5:30-8 p.m. Kalan Wolfe & The Shift, Picnic Shelter

• 7 p.m. Drone Show, Carrie Blake Community Park/Blake Property

Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell/ The Sequim Sunshine Festival drone show, pictured here in 2022 above Carrie Blake Community Park, will feature 200 drones on March 4 starting at 7 p.m.

Sequim Gazette file photo by Michael Dashiell An open jam session, seen here in March 2022, returns to Sequim Civic Center’s Plaza from 5-7 p.m. on March 3.

Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell/ Visitors to Carrie Blake Community Park on March 4 are invited to use provided paint and brushes to make designs that will last the year as part of the Sequim Sunshine Festival’s street mural project.

Sequim Gazette file photo by Matthew Nash Artist Ross Brown’s Interactive Light Experience, seen here in 2022, returns again March 3-4 in Pioneer Memorial Park for the Sequim Sunshine Festival.