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People who live in the Sequim-Dungeness Valley can tell when lavender fields are starting to bloom. The distinctive aroma from the herb which has made Sequim famous can be detected when traveling by farms dedicated to growing, propagating and distilling lavender for a variety of bath and body products, essential oils, buds and more. Locals can also tell when the fields are bursting with color because thousands of tourists arrive for a “lavender experience" at farms — big and small — throughout the valley.
People who live in the Sequim-Dungeness Valley can tell when lavender fields are starting to bloom. The distinctive aroma from the herb which has made Sequim famous can be detected when traveling by farms dedicated to growing, propagating and distilling lavender for a variety of bath and body products, essential oils, buds and more.
Locals can also tell when the fields are bursting with color because thousands of tourists arrive for a “lavender experience” at farms — big and small — throughout the valley.
This year, Sequim residents and visitors alike are in for a special treat. The Dungeness Valley will play host to two separate events — the 15th annual Sequim Lavender Festival and the new Sequim Lavender Farm Faire — dedicated to celebrating the peak of lavender season.The events, both held July 15-17, will be an all-encompassing three-day celebration of lavender.
The Sequim Lavender Festival, presented by the Sequim Lavender Growers Association, will feature free self-guided farm tours, a street fair, live music, a visit from Northwest gardening expert Ed Hume, culinary goodies and more.
The Sequim Lavender Farm Faire will feature farm tours and demonstrations, a “Lavender in the Park” event at Carrie Blake Park, culinary delights and cooking demonstrations, live music and more.
The two events will happen on the same weekend, which has earned the third weekend in July in Sequim the nickname “lavender weekend.”
In past years, Sequim had a single lavender celebration — the Sequim Lavender Festival. But that changed earlier this year when some farmers broke off from the Sequim Lavender Growers Association following administrative and philosophical differences and formed their own group, the Sequim Lavender Farmers Association.
Members of the Sequim Lavender Farmers Association began organizing their own lavender-based event called the Sequim Lavender Farm Faire, which includes Lavender in the Park and the Lavender Farm Tour.
Both lavender weekend events offer an array of activities for attendees.
You can pick a keepsake bouquet in a U-pick field, sink your teeth into a lavender marinated steak or lavender ice cream cone, learn how to cook with the culinary gem, dance to live music, learn dozens of ways local farmers use the colorful herb, watch artists at work and more.
For additional information about the Sequim Lavender Festival, visit www.lavenderfestival.com, email info@lavenderfestival.com or phone 360-681-3035.
For more information about the Sequim Lavender Farm Faire, visit www.sequimlavenderfarms.org, email info@sequimlavenderfarms.org or phone 360-452-6300.
ABOUT THE LAVENDER WEEKEND CELEBRATIONS
THE 15th SEQUIM LAVENDER FESTIVAL self-guided farm tour includes free admission to the following farms:
<<< Blackberry Forest, 136 Forest Road, www.blackberryforest.us.
<<< Lost Mountain Lavender,
located at 1541 Taylor Cutoff Road, www.lostmountainlavender.com.
<<< Nelson’s Duckpond & Lavender Farm, located at 73 Humble Road, www.nelsonsduckpond.com.
<<< Martha Lane Lavender, 371 Martha Lane, www.marthalanelavender.com.
<<< Oliver’s Lavender Farm, 82 Cameron Acres Lane, www.oliverslavender.com.
<<< The Lavender Connection, 1141 Cays Road, www.lavenderconnection.com.
<<< Peninsula Nurseries, 1210 Cays Road, www.pennurseries.com.
Participating Sequim Lavender Festival farms are open for tours from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, July 15 and Saturday, July 16, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 17.
No buses travel to these farms. The festival features a street fair on Fir Street in downtown Sequim from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 9 a.m. to
6 p.m. on Sunday.The free fair will include 150 juried artist booths, including lavender and products from members of the Sequim Lavender Growers Association, food, a wine and beer garden and live music. Although parking is available downtown, free parking and shuttle service to the street fair is available in the QFC, 990 E. Washington St., parking lot. Free parking and shuttle service is also offered from the parking lot at JCPenney, 651 W. Washington St. Free shuttle buses run every 15 to 20 minutes to the street fair from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. For more information including a schedule of events, visit www.lavenderfestival.com, email info@lavenderfestival.com or phone 360-681-3035.
THE SEQUIM LAVENDER FARM FAIRE offers tours of the following farms. See ticket information below.
<<< Cedarbrook Lavender & Herb Farm, 1345 S. Sequim Ave., www.cedarbrooklavender.com.
<<< Olympic Lavender Farm, 1432 Marine Drive, www.olympiclavender.com.
<<< Jardin du Soleil Lavender, 3932 Sequim-Dungeness Way, www.jardindusoleil.com.
<<< Port Williams Lavender, 1442 Port Williams Road, www.portwilliamslavender.com.
<<< Purple Haze Lavender Farm, 180 Bell Bottom Road, www.purplehazelavender.com.
<<< Sunshine Herb & Lavender Farm, 274154 U.S. Highway 101, www.sunshinelavender.com.
<<< George Washington Inn and Lavender Farm, 939 Finn Hall Road, www.walavender.com.
TICKET INFORMATION: Advance Sequim Lavender Farm Faire tour tickets are on sale through Thursday, July 14, for $10, a savings of $5 on the price during the faire weekend.
There is no admission charge for children 12 and under.Tickets provide unlimited admission to the farms on tour from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, July 15 to Sunday, July 17.
Each ticket comes with a souvenir “Lavender Passport.” Faire attendees who collect a stamp from at least three farms on the tour and the Lavender in the Park event at Carrie Blake Park can complete and turn in an entry form to be entered into a drawing for prizes.
Advance tickets are available at the following locations through July 14: In Sequim — The lavender farms participating in the farm tour; Frick’s Healthcare, Medical Equipment and Photo, 608 Sequim Village; Garden Bistro, 104 E. Washington St.; Heather Creek, 122 W. Washington St.; Jeremiah’s BBQ, 825 W. Washington St.; McComb Gardens, 751 McComb Road; Reddog Coffee Co., 521 S. Sequim Ave.; Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center, 1192 E. Washington St.; and at First Federal, 333 N. Sequim Ave., and 1201 W. Washington St. In Port Angeles — At First Federal, 141 W. First St., 1603 E. First St. and 227 E. Sixth St.; Olympic Cellars Winery, 255410 U.S. Highway 101; Necessities & Temptations, 217 N. Laurel St.; Port Book & News, 104 E. First St.; and KONP, 721 E. First St. In Gardiner — Wild Birds Unlimited, 275953 U.S. Highway 101.
Tickets can also be purchased online by visiting www.brownpapertickets.com through July 14.
During the weekend tickets cost $15 and are available at all farms on tour, all Lavender in the Park information booths, the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center and The Garden Bistro.Active duty military and their dependents pay $10.
Tickets provide unlimited admission to all of the farms throughout the Farm Faire as well as free bus shuttle service from Lavender in the Park at Carrie Blake Park. Buses to the farms run every 30 to 45 minutes during the event. Lavender in the Park is described as “your family-friendly central source” for all things lavender.
The event will feature lavender and lavender products from the Sequim Lavender Farmers Association, more than 150 booths offering fine arts and crafts, food and beverages, live music, agricultural programs and more. There are more than 2,000 parking spaces at the Faire parking lot on Blake Avenue. Parking is managed by the Sequim High School Band Boosters with a $2 donation requested to help fund band programs. Take the short walk to the park entrance and farm tour buses or hop on a free parking lot van shuttle or on a tractor-pulled hay ride. Parking lot shuttles run from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.
