The third weekend in July is Lavender Weekend and Festival here in Sequim. For the 26th year, the Sequim Lavender Growers Association puts on quite an event! Spanning 3 days, with live music, an art show, a quilt show. a street fair with 150 vendors and a food court, and more than a dozen lavender farms to visit there’s plenty to see and do.
The weather was glorious on Friday, and Saturday and Sunday while not quite so sunny were dry. So packing Mom and my camera (of course), I decided to take in more things lavender than I imagined existed.
First the farms – fields and fields of lavender!
Sunshine Herb & Lavender Farm
Graysmarsh Farm
The amazing colors of the flowers lining the drive to the George Washington Inn, midway between Sequim and Port Angeles.
Some of the lavender at the George Washington Inn.
Lavender fields at the B&B Family Farm. This is the largest and oldest of the lavender farms here in Sequim. If they’re giving tours, take one. You’ll learn so much about lavender – how it’s grown, harvested, processed and its uses. If I absolutely had to pick a favorite lavender farm, this would be it.
Lavender hanging to dry at B&B Family Farm.
Still used to extract lavender essential oil.
There’s more than just lavender farms at Lavender Festival … and a shuttle bus (a school bus, so watch those adult-sized knees so you don’t whack the seat in front of you!) which you could hop on and hit not just the festival, but the stores in town without having to deal with parking, which around town gets absolutely crazy. Parking at the festival is free, quite well organized, staffed by friendly volunteers, and just a short walk to the festival.
The quilt show was held outdoors at Pioneer Memorial Park in Sequim. A lovely setting, but I’m sure glad it didn’t rain!
Lavender shortbread cookies, too pretty to eat!
For a taste of the events over the weekend, here’s an event map you can download (PDF format).
The street fair was at Carrie Blake Park. So many lavender products, so much purple. I feel like a bit of heretic admitting all I bought was chocolate fudge. But it was really, really good fudge!
The biggest disappointment for me was the lack of food choices, only a half dozen food trucks, and long, long lines. Live music and the forementioned fudge made up for my hot food disgruntlement.
Children, adults, dogs all dancing to the music. Except for the cute little blondie more intent on eating her ice cream. (Good choice young lady, good choice.)
Bread & Gravy does a wonderful mix of folk, Americana and soul, with a bit of country, rock and bluegrass thrown in for good measure. And boy oh boy can Stephanie sing!
Links of Interest:
- B&B Family Farm – website
- George Washington Inn – website
- Sequim Lavender Festival – website
- Visit Sunny Sequim Lavender Weekend – website from the City of Sequim
- Sunbonnet Sue Quilt Club – website
- Bread & Gravy – Facebook page
