The 82nd Rhododendron Festival honors Washington’s state flower and is the oldest community-based festival in Port Townsend and Jefferson County.

The following list features Rhododendron Festival Association events as well as other special events and performances traditionally staged in conjunction with Rhody Fest week.

The Rhododendron Festival Association is a volunteer-based organization that welcomes new members – and fundraising support. The association’s 2017 executive board members are Debbie LaFollette, president; Brandi Hamon, vice president; Lori Morris, secretary; and Merrilee Ridgeway, treasurer.

Volunteers are welcome and needed. Learn more via the festival’s Facebook page at rhodyfestival.org, or by email

rhodyfest@gmail.com.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 17

TRIKE RACES

Trike race registration 5 p.m., races 6 p.m.

Coordinator:

Sunrise Rotary Club

Sponsor:

Les Schwab Tire Center

Location: Downtown

Children ages 1-6 are eligible; assemble at City Hall. Races start at Madison and finish before Monroe Street.

Each age and each wheel group has a separate chance to compete, with ribbons going to first, second and third places in each race.

All entrants receive a participant ribbon. The wheel groups include tricycles, big wheels and small two-wheel bikes with training wheels (all four wheels must touch the ground at the same time).


Rhody Fest royalty presents the “best decorated” award, which come with an invitation to be in Saturday’s Grand Parade.

(All bikes must have three wheels; two-wheeled bikes are not permitted in this race.)

THURSDAY, MAY 18

FUNTASTIC CARNIVAL

Funtastic Traveling Shows brings a carnival to Jefferson County Memorial Athletic Field downtown. Carnival opens at 4 p.m., Thursday and runs through Saturday. No pets and no smoking on the field.

PET PARADE

Pet Parade registration

3:30 p.m., judging 4 p.m.,

parade 4:30 p.m.

Sponsor:

Safeway of Port Townsend

Location: Uptown

Arrive on Lawrence Street between Pierce and Van Buren by 3:30 p.m. Judging begins promptly at 4 p.m. – participants must have a registration ribbon to be judged. Line up two by two; the judges look at each group and determine first, second and third places per category. Ribbons are awarded for each category (unusual animals, cats and kittens, rabbits, small dogs, medium dogs, large dogs, and one category for goats, llamas and horses). Remember to walk slowly, so that people can take in the sights.

Rhody Fest royalty awards the title of “best decorated,” which includes an invitation to be in Saturday’s Grand Parade.

The parade progresses along Lawrence from Harrison to Quincy street – do not stop on the street or it will back up the parade. After the parade, Safeway provides goodies for the participants on the Port Townsend Community Center lawn.

Pets must be contained or leashed. All participants younger than 6 must have an adult with them. Line up behind the category sign relating to your pet. Questions? Contact Elsa Golts at 379-1676 or 643-1339.

Also, plan ahead and park your car near the end of the parade route, not at the beginning. That means walking to reach the starting line, but it’s less disruptive to the parade than walking back through the parade route when it’s over. (It is also closer to the carnival downtown, for children and families heading in that direction.)

FRIDAY, MAY 19

KIDDIES PARADE

Kiddies Parade registration

2 p.m., judging 3 p.m.,

parade 3:30 p.m.

Sponsor:

Kiwanis Club of Port Townsend

Location: Uptown to downtown

Arrive in Uptown in the lawn of the PT Community Center at Lawrence and Tyler streets for registration at 2 p.m.; judging begins promptly at 3 p.m. Participants must have a registration ribbon to be judged. Parade starts at 3:30 p.m. on Lawrence Street, goes from Quincy to Monroe and down the hill, ending at Water Street, with participants dispersing onto Madison (City Hall).

Award categories are:

Preschool Groups, Disney/Storybook, Wheels, Superheroes, Sports, Nature, Animals, Fantasy, Original/Unique and Youth Groups (e.g., gymnastics, dance, scouts, 4-H).

Ribbons for first, second and third places are awarded in each category. The “best overall” entry, as decided by Rhody royalty, will be invited to join in the Grand Parade.

Parents and other adults are asked to remember that this is a kiddie parade and not to walk in the parade unless absolutely necessary. Again, plan ahead and park your car near the parade route’s end.

FUNTASTIC CARNIVAL

Carnival rides and games are located within Jefferson County Memorial Athletic Field downtown. Opens 4 p.m.

KIWANIS BRATS & BREW

Location: Legion Hall, 4-8 p.m.

Sponsor:

Kiwanis Club of Port Townsend

The Kiwanis Club hosts a family-friendly Brats and Brew fest at the American Legion Marvin G. Shields Memorial Post 26, corner of Water and Monroe streets (enter door from Water Street). Food tickets are $10 and includes brat and bun, baked beans, coleslaw, sauerkraut, and lemonade, water and coffee. Also available are hot dogs for kids, and vegetarian hot dogs. Beer and wine can be purchased for $5 a glass. There are indoor and outdoor beer gardens. Proceeds benefit Kiwanis community service projects.

HAIR & BEARD CONTEST

Hair and Beard Contest registration 5 p.m., judging 5:30 p.m.

Coordinated by:

Janet Emery and the Kinetic Kops

Location: Downtown

Hair categories for kids 12 and younger: Longest, Coolest Braid, Rhody Spirit. Hair categories for women: Longest, Coolest Braid, Rhody Spirit. Hair categories for men: Best Use of Hair, Most Unique Overall, Longest Beard.

BED RACE

Bed Race registration 5 p.m., races 6:30 p.m.

Coordinated by:

Janet Emery and the Kinetic Kops

Location: Downtown

It’s more than just four wheels, four pushers and one rider; the Rhody Fest Bed Race also involves fun and games. Gather along Water Street between Monroe (Legion Hall) and Madison (City Hall) streets to catch the action. Entry forms may be downloaded from the Rhododendron Festival Facebook page or from

rhodyfestival.org.

Contestants must provide their own beds. Beds must have a foam or pad mattress, a headboard and a footboard. Wheels cannot exceed 12 inches in overall diameter and 3 inches in width. Bed must have one rider who weighs at least 100 pounds (judges check), and four people must propel the bed. The bed must remain in its assigned lane throughout each race.

The racing grid is determined at registration. There is an award for the best-decorated bed, so pick a theme – or use this year’s 82nd festival theme, “Enchanted Rhody.”

SATURDAY, MAY 20

RHODY BREAKFAST

BPO Elks Lodge 317 hosts its annual pancake breakfast fundraiser, 8-10 a.m. at the lodge, 555 Otto St. Tickets are $8. Groups are asked to RSVP by calling 385-0317 by Friday morning.

RHODY GOLF

Port Townsend Golf Club hosts the Jim Caldwell Memorial Rhody Festival Golf Tournament. Players can attend events on one or both days. On May 20, the tourney begins at 8 a.m. and is an individual stroke play event with an entry fee of $35 plus $10 greens fees for nonmembers. On May 21, it’s two-person best-ball, same fees. Proceeds benefit the Rhododendron Festival Association. There are plenty of prize opportunities. Call 385-4547.

FARMERS MARKET

The Port Townsend Farmers Market is to be in its usual location on Tyler Street this year and will not be moving, director Amanda Milholland reports. Its hours also remain the same: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. The market’s presence means additional food and beverage options for parade watchers, and more demand for parking spaces.

FUNTASTIC CARNIVAL

Carnival rides and games are located within Jefferson County Memorial Athletic Field downtown. Opens at noon.

RUNNING OF THE BALLS

Sunrise Rotary Club sponsors this golf ball “race” down a course on Monroe Street, with some of the balls funneling into the winner’s circle. Setup begins at noon, with the race at 12:30 p.m.

Advance “Running of the Balls” tickets are available at the Saturday Port Townsend Farmers Market. Tickets are sold on parade day at the top of the course at Monroe and Lawrence streets, and at the bottom, at Monroe and Washington streets from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Tickets are $5 each or five for $20. The winning ball earns its “owner” $2,000, with $500 for second place and $250 for third place.

Extra prizes are being donated this year by businesses in Jefferson County.

The event is a fundraiser to support grants to the community as well as a dictionary project for third-graders. Every third-grade student in Jefferson County receives a dictionary each year thanks, in part, to this event, said organizer Rita Hubbard.

For more information and tickets, contact Hubbard at 301-1104.

GRAND PARADE

Grand Parade registration 8 a.m.-noon at the Visitor Center on Sims Way; parade at 1 p.m.

Sponsor: Rhododendron Festival Association

Location:

Uptown to downtown

The parade forms on Lawrence Street and begins at Harrison Street (fire hall), proceeding to Monroe and then to Water, ending at the corner of Water and Adams streets, turning onto Adams. The review stand, with announcer Janet Emery, is on Water Street between City Hall and the American Legion. (See parade lineup on program, page 1.) Let the participants hear from you! Vehicle access to Point Hudson resumes at about 3 p.m.

CAKE PICNIC, AFTER-PARTY

Cake Picnic, begins after parade ends, about

2:30-3 p.m.

Presented by: Thunderbull Productions

Location: Downtown

Follow the Grand Parade downtown to Pope Marine Park (across from City Hall) for 2,000 slices of free cake, in the interest of building community through celebration. The baking team of volunteers, led by Kellen Lynch, is joined by Crust Bakery staff and Dalla Notte Baking. The cake flavors are a secret, ingredients are mostly organic, and there is a gluten-free option.

Once the 2,000 slices are served, a dance party commences with DJ Captain Peacock handling the music. Music features Dirty Beats Duo, the Unexpected Brass Band and the O’Meara Dance Studio.

Art created for the Cake Picnic is by painter Jesse Watson. Food vendors also are set up at Pope Marine Park this year.

Donations to sustain the Cake Picnic are welcome; visit

cakepicnic.com.

SPAGHETTI FEED

BPO Elks Lodge 317 hosts its annual post-parade spaghetti feed fundraiser, 5-7 p.m. at the lodge, 555 Otto St. Tickets, $10.

SUNDAY, MAY 21

RHODY BREAKFAST

BPO Elks Lodge 317 hosts its annual pancake breakfast fundraiser, 7-9 a.m. at the lodge, 555 Otto St. Tickets, $8. There is no need to RSVP on this day.

RHODY

GOLF

Port Townsend Golf Club hosts the Jim Caldwell Memorial Rhody Festival Golf Tournament. On May 21, starting time is 9 a.m. for this two-person, best-ball event. Entry fee is $30 plus $10 greens fees for nonmembers. Proceeds benefit the Rhododendron Festival Association. Call 385-4547.

RHODY

RUN

Rhody Run XXXIX’s online registration ends 5 p.m., Thursday, May 18.

People already registered can pick up packets 4-7 p.m. on Saturday and 8:45-10:45 a.m. on Sunday inside Fort Worden Commons.

Day-of-race registration opens at 8:45 a.m., Sunday and closes at 10:15 a.m. inside Fort Worden Commons.

Sponsor: Jefferson Healthcare, Port Townsend Marathon Association and friends

Race begins and ends at Fort Worden State Park. Race starts at 11 a.m. This 12K (7.46-mile) race/run/jog/walk prides itself as being “the run that cares for the runner.”

New this year is the 1/2 Rhody 6K course (3.72 miles), which is not USATF distance certified.

Entry fees are $45 for adults the day of the race, $25 for active-duty military, $25 for seniors (ages 65 and older) and $15 for children younger than 18.

Register online at

rhodyrun.com. The fifth annual Kids Sprint for Health is a pre-Rhody Run event for youngsters ages 9 and younger. Registration opens at 9 a.m. and sprints begin at 9:30 a.m. on the Fort Worden Parade Ground.