Visitors can smell the lavender, pick the lavender, taste the lavender, walk through fields of lavender and buy artwork featuring lavender at the 10th annual Sequim Lavender Festival this weekend.
Tucked in a pocket below the Olympic Mountains, the town of Sequim boasts a sunny valley that can grow the native French herb like nobody’s business.
The festival includes a street fair on Fir Street in downtown Sequim featuring regional artwork and lavender products. Local foods, wines and live music add to the festivities.
Street fair hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
From the street fair, visitors can take a bus and tour eight lavender farms. Farmers will share their farms as well as their techniques for cultivating, drying and using lavender. U-pick lavender is offered at each farm, along with workshops, demonstrations, craft artists, music, food and beverages. The tour runs 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today through Sunday, and costs $10 per person. Kids 12 and under are free.
For more information, call 877-681-3035 or visit the festival Web site at www.lavenderfestival.com.
King County Fair: At 144 years old, the King County Fair is billed as the oldest west of the Mississippi.
Although the fair still focuses on old-fashioned fun, this old lady is alive and kickin’ – at least, that’s what organizers have dubbed the theme of this year’s fair, set for Wednesday through July 23 at the county fairgrounds in Enumclaw.
All the traditional fair fun is planned: gooey, greasy food, carnival rides, blue-ribbon competitions, farm animals and plenty of live music.
A rising country-western star from Tacoma, Blaine Larsen, headlines the concert series. His music began attracting attention after his single “In My High School” received radio play in Seattle. A major record label signed the 20-year-old and he recently released his second album. Larsen performs at 8 p.m. July 21.
Three stages will offer non-stop entertainment from dozens of other acts. All stage entertainment is free with fair admission.
Admission is $8, $6 seniors and youth ages 6-12. Kids under the age of 6 are free when accompanied by an adult.
For more information, call the fairgrounds at 206-296-8888 or go online to www.metrokc.gov/parks/fair.
Keith Lazelle photo courtesy Sequim Lavender Festival
A colorful scene at the Purple Haze Lavender Farm in Sequim.
Sequim Lavender Festival
Iris Eddy’s artwork for the official 2006 Lavender Festival poster.
Blaine Larsen performs July 21.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
