Organizers of the Sequim Sunshine Festival look to bring back the March event for a second year in a limited, pandemic-friendly fashion.
Barbara Hanna, Sequim’s communications and marketing director, told city councilors on Nov. 23 that co-organizers had “a strong sentiment to move forward with doing something and doing what we can” on March 5-6, 2021.
For its first event on March 6 and 7 earlier this year, some of the activities included an illuminated drone show, Sun Fun Color Run, interactive light experience, 3-D chalk art display and live music.
Hanna previously said the event was created as an attraction for Sequim’s offseason at the end of winter. With provisions in place for COVID-19, organizers tentatively plan to offer at least three events: the Sun Fun Color Run, a lights competition, and a scavenger hunt.
Smaller art projects are also being considered, she said.
With 400-plus participants, Hanna said the run was “a really positive thing for the community.”
Current state guidelines allow for fun runs with restrictions such as offering a virtual event, Hanna said. The city would tentatively partner with last year’s race director Victoria Jones, who helped write the regulations.
Earlier this year, the Sun Fun Color Run took place at the Albert Haller Playfields in Carrie Blake Community Park with 5k and 1k (non-timed) events. It included eight color blast zones in the 5k and three for the 1K, where participants ran through color blast zones to be sprayed with different colors of powder.
Hanna said they are considering extending the timeline to participate in order to promote social distancing.
As for the popular drone show, it drew thousands of people to the park earlier this year, which organizers want to discourage for safety reasons in 2021, Hanna said.
City officials say they intend to tentatively bring the show back in 2022.
However, a previously tabled idea to offer fireworks on the Fourth of July because of the cost may be an option. Hanna said she’s in discussions with Western Display Fireworks of Oregon for a tentative July 4, 2021, contract.
She said organizers hope in-person events will be allowed by then, and she’ll bring back a proposal in early 2021 for councilors to consider.
Instead of the drone show for 2021, Hanna said they’re considering another special event in the park with lights for the holidays. They’re also considering a lights competition for residents and businesses.
The third event tentatively would be a scavenger hunt encouraging families and households to seek out things across the city.
For more information on the festival, visit www.visitsunnysequim.com/263/Sequim-Sunshine-Festival.
Runners prepare for the Sun Fun Color Run earlier this year for the first Sequim Sunshine Festival. The event will tentatively be modified for 2021 to be virtual and held over a week. Sequim Gazette file photo by Conor Dowley
