Sequim Lavender Festival
There’s a spot on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula where the mountains block the rain and the sun shines more often than it rains. The town is called Sequim (pronounced “skwim”), and with just 16 inches of annual rainfall — comparable to Provence, France — it’s home to the largest concentration of lavender farms in North America. Olympic National Park is at the doorstep. The Strait of Juan de Fuca shimmers to the north. And everywhere you look, rows of purple stretch toward snow-capped peaks.
In the mid-1990s, a handful of pioneering farmers realized this microclimate could grow world-class lavender. They were right. The Sequim Lavender Growers Association was formed in 1996, and the very first Sequim Lavender Festival followed in 1997 — kicking off a tradition that now draws visitors from around the world.
A Festival is Born
That inaugural festival drew visitors from across the region, eager to experience the beauty and fragrance of Sequim’s lavender fields. Three decades later, the festival has grown into one of the Pacific Northwest’s most beloved summer events, drawing tens of thousands of visitors each July.
Three Decades of Growth
Over 30 years, the festival has evolved from a modest community gathering into a three-day celebration featuring live music at LavenderStock, over 200 artisan vendors at Festival in the Park, guided farm tours, workshops, barn dances, and the beloved Sunset Picnic Dinner.
Each farm in Sequim tells its own unique story. From the pioneering growers who established Sequim as the Lavender Capital of North America in the 1990s, to the newest farmers bringing fresh energy and innovation to the valley, every visit offers a distinct experience. Some farms specialize in essential oil distillation, others in culinary lavender, and many offer U-pick experiences where visitors can walk through the fragrant rows and cut their own bundles.
More Than Just Lavender
The festival weekend is a celebration of community, creativity, and the natural beauty of the Olympic Peninsula. Beyond the farms, visitors enjoy live music, handcrafted art, local food, and the warm hospitality that makes Sequim special. Evening barn dances under the stars have become a festival tradition that visitors come back for year after year.