It is Washington State's longest continuously running annual Community Fair.

In 1895 the settlers in the area looked over their prairie and decided that if they could get water from the hills into the flatlands they'd have a fair chance of raising crops and providing feed for animals, generally making "the good life" happen. So the men of the community got out their shovels, working through the winter, and hand -dug a ditch and flume, which did just that! The festival celebrates the turning on of the water through that irrigation canal. Women brought out the food, and it was celebration time. And the celebrations have continued for 108 years, each May, paying tribute to and honoring those who developed this gift of water to this valley. And the Sequim area has prospered, grown and become a wonderful place to live...

Over the years the original mile-long ditch became over 300 miles of channels for that life-giving gift of water to the earth. Dairy farms supplied the Puget Sound area with milk products. Feed farms fed the animals, and truck farms fed the people with crops of vegetables and fruit. Today many of the area's farms have raised their last crop- subdivisions and houses, and the area's working farms are decreasing in number. But we still have many to visit. Among a lot of places, there's

• Nash's organic farm,;
• Graysmarsh Farm for u-pick berries, and flowers;
• Cedarbrook herb farms, featuring Petal's Cafe
• The Cutting Garden,dahlia growers, having a sale of their special tubers this weekend.
• and the Purple Haze,for Lavender.

and then there are all the nurseries and small growers, setting out the gardeners' desires - the plants, shrubs, and hanging baskets which will enhance the front yards and back gardens in the community.

The city closes off Cedar Street betweeen 2nd Avenue and Sequim Ave North. The food court is at the Sequim Avenue entrance.

- Crafts vendors put up their booths ... The bandstand is raised, and on Saturday each hour features a different group of musicians taking stage-center. The live music they contribute adds to the festivities. Everybody needs some protection from the rain sprinkles and wind which often affect the party just a wee bit. Tonight features a street dance, too, for all.

An anticipated feature of this Irrigation Festival are the garden clubs plant sales, and exhibitions. They'll begin this weekend and willl maintain their exhibits for the two weeks of the festivities.

And in celebration of National Pet Week of May 4th through 10th, The Pacific Northwest Veterinary Hospital located at 289 W. Bell Street, at 3rd Ave., will host an Open House on May 7th from noon to 4 p.m. It is a chance to view the new addition to their animal hospital- and they promise a petting zoo, too! PFOA, WAGS, and Critter Haven will also have information booths there. Call 681-3368 for more info.