SEQUIM — Sunny skies are expected to help usher in the Grand Finale Weekend of the 124th Sequim Irrigation Festival.
Although the carnival opened Thursday and will continue through Sunday on the softball fields at Sequim High School, 610 N. Sequim Ave., the biggest favorites of the second weekend of the annual festival to celebrate irrigation will be the Logging Show, Strongman Competition, the Grand Parade and fireworks today and Saturday.
“Typically when it’s nice out, we have a better turnout,” festival Executive Director Deon Kapetan said.
The festival, the state’s longest continuous festival, has a “Wizard of Oz” theme — “There’s No Place like Home.”
This year marks the 31st-annual Logging Show, with events running all day today and Saturday, with food, vendors and an early gas engine display set up nearby on the field off Blake Avenue south of Carrie Blake Community Park, 202 N. Blake Ave.
Fireworks — the only public display all year in Sequim — will be at 9:30 tonight. Kapetan encourages pet owners to check with their veterinarians to discuss options if their pets are sensitive to loud noises. Kapetan also encourages community members sensitive to loud noises to consider options to lessen the noise for that span, too.
The Hot Rods and Harleys Show N’ Cruzz will cruise into its 16th year with vehicle staging for the cruise along Washington Street beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday at Evergreen Collision, 703 E. Washington St.
The parade will be at 10:45 a.m. driving towards Sequim Walmart, 1110 W. Washington St. More than 200 vehicles participated last year.
Registration for the Car Show ‘n Shine at Walmart will begin at 9 a.m. outside the store with awards at 4 p.m.
The fee is $20 to register for both events the day of the show or $15 if attendees register by 2 p.m. today with Randy Perry at Sequim Shoe Repair, 425 E. Washington St. Suite 5.
This year’s Grand Parade has more than 120 entries, including festival royalty, bands and others on Washington Street starting at noon Saturday.
The parade will span from the intersection of North Dunlap Avenue and Washington Street to just before Seventh Avenue. Many people stake out spots the night before with duct tape and lawn chairs or early in the morning to catch the Fun Run, Car Cruzz and parade. Water will be available for parade participants at the start and end of the parade.
The Sequim High School’s operetta “Legally Blonde” will continue for the second weekend at the Sequim High School Auditorium, 533 N. Sequim Ave. Shows also are planned the following weekend at 7 p.m. May 17 and 2 p.m. May 18-19. Tickets range from $12 to $18. Tickets are available at the door and online shsoperetta.ludus.com.
Today
• 11 a.m. —Check-in for golf tournament hosted by the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula. The four-person scramble begins at 1 p.m. at The Cedars at Dungeness, 1965 Woodcock Road
Player packages begin at $100 with promotions available from Janet Gray at 360-683-8095 or jgray@bgc-op.org or go online to www.bgc-op.org under the “events” tab.
• Noon to 7 p.m. — Logging Show, with truck and tractor pulls until 6 p.m.; beer garden open from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. and chainsaw carving from noon to 7 p.m. at Carrie Blake Community Park.
• 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. — Strongman Competition on the Logging Show main stage, Carrie Blake Community Park.
• 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. — Carnival, softball fields at Sequim High School, 610 N. Sequim Ave.,
• 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. — Lumberjack Ball with the Craig and Terry Band, Carrie Blake Community Park..
• 7 p.m. — “Legally Blonde” operetta, Sequim High School Auditorium, 533 N. Sequim Ave. • 9:30 p.m. — Carrie Blake Community Park, fireworks.
Saturday
• 10 a.m. — 5K Fun Run and 1 mile walk/dash beginning in the JCPenney parking lot, 651 W. Washington St. Registration at 8:30 a.m. Race is down Washington Street with runners turning at the Shipley Center for the 5K and walkers/runners turning at the intersection of Washington Street and Third Avenue for the 1K. Cost is $30. For more information or to register, call 360-582-7039 or email get_results_cpt@yahoo.com.
• 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. — Logging Show, with axe throwing, pole falling and power saws; tractor pulls until 6 p.m.; chainsaw carving from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and beer garden open from noon to 7 p.m. at Carrie Blake Community Park.
• 9 a.m. — Hot Rods and Harleys Show registration outside Sequim Walmart, 1110 W. Washington St.; awards at 4 p.m.
• 10:45 a.m. — Hot Rods and Harleys Show N’ Cruzz parade on Washington Street.
• Noon to 2 p.m. — Grand Parade, intersection of North Dunlap Avenue and Washington Street to just before Seventh Avenue.
• Noon to 11 p.m. — Carnival, softball fields at Sequim High School, 610 N. Sequim Ave.
• 7 p.m. — “Legally Blonde” operetta, Sequim High School Auditorium, 533 N. Sequim Ave.
Sunday
• Noon to 5 p.m. — Carnival, with moms riding free.
• 2 p.m. — “Legally Blonde” operetta, Sequim High School Auditorium, 533 N. Sequim Ave.
Find a full festival schedule at www. irrigationfestival.com.
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Matthew Nash is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. Reach him at mnash@sequimgazette.com.
