Sequim, WA: Lavender Festival, July 17-19, 2009

The 13^th Annual Sequim Lavender Festival is known as the largest lavender festival in North America. It is a fundraising activity of the Sequim Lavender Growers' Association, a non-profit organization, and is being held this year on July 17, 18, and 19, 2009.

Sequim, WA has less than 20 inches of rain per year due to the unique nature of being located in a "rain shadow" on Washington State's Olympic Peninsula. This makes the conditions perfect for growing lavender, just as in France's Provencal region. Sequim's lavender farmers have over 200 years of experience in growing, and creating other lavender products.

This year's opening ceremony will be at 11 a.m., Friday July 17, at the Street Fair Main Stage. Master Gardener Ciscoe Morris, also known for his popular show "Gardening with Ciscoe," will be the Master of Ceremonies to kick off this year's lavender celebration.

Festival hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Admission to the Street Fair is free. Parking is available at the QFC parking lot on the east side of town and at the J.C. Penney's lot on the west side. Free shuttle buses will run every 15-20 minutes to the Street Fair.

Artists from all over Washington and Oregon, and also from California, Arizona, Idaho and Wyoming, will be among the over 120 juried arts and crafts booths at the Street Fair in downtown Sequim. You will also find specialty products made by Sequim's own Lavender Growers' Association.

The festival will also feature three days of a variety of musical entertainment at the Main Stage, including Seattle's acoustic jazz group, Pearl Django.

The Food Court will feature a great selection of foods to tempt most any palate. You won't generally find your typical fair foods, though you will find the occasional hot dog, corn on the cob, and French fries. Instead, you may feast on grilled lavender pepper sausages, African dishes prepared with lavender flavored chicken, fresh oysters and clams, Dungeness crab cakes, and many more delectable dishes with flavors from all over the world.

Olympic Peninsula wines will be featured at the Wine & Beer Garden, and beer from the Deschutes Brewery of Bend, Oregon. To enter, you must be 21 years of age.

Make sure to make your lunch or dinner plans around your attendance at the festival! Food booths are open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

You and your family also have an opportunity to visit seven of the farms. Tour the farms from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Tickets are $15.00 (free admission for ages 12 and under) and includes a 3-day admission to all farms, bus transportation from the fair to the farms, and all the knowledge that you will gain by talking to the farmers.

This year the farms will host seven different culinary demonstrations on Sunday to give you ideas for using lavender to add a special twist to several dishes. Click here for the Sunday Farm Tour Culinary Program schedule.

Though pets are welcome at the Street Fair, you will not be allowed to bring them to the Farms on Tour. There is an accommodation available for pet-sitting available on a donation basis.

For more details, additional festival offerings, driving instructions, and other information about lavender from the Pacific Northwest, please visit the Sequim lavender links below.

Sources

The Sequim Lavender Festival website

Sequim Lavender Growers Association