The Long Way
Jefferson County

Rhododendron Festival

Port Townsend, Jefferson County, Washington. Festival; May.

Details

Map. Port Townsend, Jefferson County, Washington. Larger map
Where
Grand Parade staging on Lawrence Street between Harrison and Walker, Uptown, Port Townsend, WA 98368. Directions
When
every third week of May; May 13-17 (91st festival).
Getting there
From Edmonds/Kingston Ferry, follow Hwy 104 west through Port Gamble, cross Hood Canal Bridge, take Beaver Valley Road/Hwy 19 until it merges into Hwy 20, then continue to Port Townsend.
Hours
Grand Parade Saturday at 1:00 pm.
Access
During the parades several Jefferson Transit routes run on deviation; deviation maps and schedules are posted on the transit page.
Website
rhodyfestival.org
Managed by
Rhody Festival Association.
Established
1936.

Rhody Week events include trike races, the Pet Parade, Grand Parade, Kiddie Parade, Bed Races, beard judging, golf tournaments and a downtown store window display contest.

Notable Events

  1. 1922Before the official festival, the Chamber of Commerce looking to draw tourists brought a special ferry of visitors to Port Townsend in June of 1922 to see the Washington State flower in its natural habitat. ptleader.com
  2. 1935As a prelude to Hearst's arrival, Mr. Buttermere and the business community organized a Queen competition so that there could be a group of young women photographed with the rhododendrons. rhodyfestival.org
  3. 1936The American Legion took over the festival in 1936, and the first queen was Myrtle Olsen. ptleader.com
  4. 1936The first festival in 1936 was a one day event with a parade; as the years progressed more events were added and the length of the Festival grew. rhodyfestival.org
  5. 1942The Festival was suspended during World War II. rhodyfestival.org
  6. 1946The Festival resumed in 1946 after its World War II suspension. rhodyfestival.org
  7. 1950sThe Chamber of Commerce took over the festival leadership and more events were added until it grew to be a week-long celebration. rhodyfestival.org
  8. 1980sIn the 1980's the festival became a non-profit corporation and not affiliated with any one group in the County. rhodyfestival.org

People

  • Christy Spencer, Rhododendron Festival co-president; royalty alumna, a princess in 1987 (1987).
  • Shawna Smith, Rhododendron Festival co-president; the 1999 festival's queen (1999).
  • Clive Buttemere, local promoter who, with the Chamber of Commerce, promoted the beginning of the official Rhododendron Festival.
  • Clive Buttermere, local businessman who convinced the Hearst Metrotone News organization to come to Jefferson County and film the rhododendrons in bloom (1935).
  • Myrtle Olsen, first Rhododendron Queen, voted by the community and filmed by Hearst.

Sources

  1. jeffersontransit.com/226/Rhododendron-Festival
  2. rhodyfestival.org
  3. rhodyfestival.org/about-us
  4. rhodyfestival.org/directions
  5. rhodyfestival.org/events
  6. facebook.com/rhodyfestival
  7. instagram.com/rhododendronfestival
  8. rhodyfestival.org/history
  9. peninsuladailynews.com/2005/05/13/port-townsend-rhododendron-festival-to-begin-70th-run
  10. ptleader.com/articles/blogs/before-there-was-a-rhododendron-festival