Lavender Festival

Is there a certain smell or scent that you just can’t get enough of? Maybe a favorite perfume or the smell of a home cooked meal that reminds you of special memories? Or maybe you just think of the name of a scent and can instantly imagine the smell. Maybe you can instantly imagine the feeling it gives you. That’s how I feel about the smell of lavender, I absolutely love the smell. I can honestly smell this scent right now just typing about it. Lavender reminds me of Calm. Beauty. Sunshine. Happiness and Home.

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I remember looking out the kitchen window when I was younger to our little backyard, and seeing this giant tree with purple flowers that would blossom every Spring. Growing up, I always thought these beautiful purple flowers were lavender. My mom used to cut them and bring them inside, filling our little home with the sweet smell of happiness and tranquility. We used to cut the branches together and would make bouquets to give to my elementary school teachers. Well it turns out, the beautiful purple flowers were not lavender branches at all but instead was a lilac tree (Unfortunately, I still have yet to develop my green thumb). I finally discovered this when my best friend’s mom gave me a small bunch of lavender tied together with a pink ribbon to put in my room. Even though the two smells are different, I grew up loving both. That’s why anytime I think of the smell of lavender (and lilac too) I am instantly reminded of the sweet smelling memories with my mom at our home. Of calmness, beauty, sunshine and happiness.

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Since I cannot get enough of this scent, my best friend Amber and I (the girl whose mom helped me realize the difference between lavender and lilac oh so long ago) decided to go to the Lavender Festival in Sequim, WA. We went last summer on a beautiful sunny Sunday in July and wow…what a day it was!

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We took the Kingston Ferry from Edmonds Ferry Terminal and drove about an hour to Sequim (actually I think it took us a little longer since we got lost and missed the exit on the way there due to traffic). We started at the main event, The Sequim Lavender Festival Street Fair. Here you can find a variety of food, drinks (lavender infused cocktails), music and shopping booths to please all types of people. Many booths are run by local business owners around the community. (The lavender infused ice cream was amazing, highly recommend. Also, the lavender chapstick – my fav).

From there you can pick which lavender fields you want to visit. There are TONS. I recommend printing or saving the Driving Guide, which lists all the fields around the area. Oh yeah, this event is dog friendly, so bring your pup(s)!

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Amber and I went to B + B Family Lavender Farm and cut lavender to take home. You can cut as much or as little as you like, and can choose from a variety of lavender bushes (some 20+ years old) which are all a bit different. It smelled AMAZING. We stocked up.

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The festival is always held the 3rd weekend in July. This year it will take place from July 17 – July 19, 2020 (fingers crossed that things with coronavirus settle down by then).

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This is a wonderful day trip but be prepared to wait in lines of traffic on your way back home (especially on a Sunday evening, I recommend having some different podcasts queued up and ready to play for the drive back). You also need to plan to catch the ferry at least an hour ahead of time unless you want to drive around through Seattle. And be prepared to have your house smell INCREDIBLE if you decide to take a bunch of fresh picked lavender home (I dried up the bouquet I brought home and left it out as a centerpiece in my kitchen for a couple of months).

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Maybe you will discover your favorite smell, a memorable scent from your childhood, even a cherishable memory. What’s your favorite scent? What does it remind you of? Either way, you can’t beat the smell of lavender (and lilac too!) at this festival.