SEQUIM — The fifth annual Sequim Sunshine Festival will be on Friday and Saturday.

The festival gets an early jump on celebrating one of Sequim’s best-known assets — sunshine. Due to a rain shadow from the Olympic Mountains, Sequim averages just 16 inches of rain each year, making it one of the driest places in Western Washington.

“The festival is an opportunity to shake off the winter blues and celebrate the coming of the spring and summer seasons with activities that will get people outside and moving, exploring creativity, and inspired with light and positive energy,” according to a city press release.

Festival favorites include the Sun Fun Color Run, Interactive Light Experience, Sunshine Market and the Illuminated Drone Show.

“We put a lot of effort into planning this year’s event to improve the experience for festival goers by locating more activities under a roof to be better prepared for all types of weather,” said Patsene Dashiell, city marketing coordinator.

“We recognize that we can’t guarantee great weather, but we can guarantee a festival full of fun activities for the entire family.”

Key events

Friday

• Welcome by Sequim Mayor Brandon Janisse with a ribbon cutting and a heritage presentation by Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Citizen ƛ̕əw’cən Mackenzie Grinnell at 5 p.m. at the Civic Center Plaza, 152 W. Cedar St.

• Interactive Light Experience Exhibit opens from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Pioneer Park Club House, 387 E. Washington St. This custom-built interactive environment blends art and science and encourages visitors to look at light as an artistic design element and the physical properties of light. Sponsored by Clallam County Public Utility District.

• Navy Band Northwest Popular Music Concert will be from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Olympic Theatre Arts, 414 N. Sequim Ave.

• First Friday Art Walk from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. will offer exhibits by local artists at galleries and shops throughout the city.

• Sun Fun Color Run Race Bib Pick-Up is between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Barhop Brewery & Artisan Pizza, 845 W. Washington St. The 1K is $25 to enter; the 5K is $40. Register at https://www.visitsunnysequim.com/307/2024-Sun-Fun-Color-Run. Sponsored by Peninsula Behavioral Health.

Saturday

• Interactive Light Experience is from noon to 6:30 p.m. at the Pioneer Memorial Park Club House.

All other Saturday events are at Carrie Blake Park, 202 N. Blake Ave.

• Sunshine Market — 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., adjacent to the Guy Cole Event Center. Vendor and food booths and family-friendly activity stations sponsored by local nonprofit organizations will be offered.

• Live Music and the Beer and Wine Garden — 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Guy Cole Event Center.

• Community Street Mural Project — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Paint, brushes and stencils are available to help create a street mural that will last throughout the year.

• Sun Fun Color Run — 11 a.m., Albert Haller Playfields.

• Illuminated Drone Show by Firefly Drone Company — 7 p.m. at Carrie Blake Park. This 200-drone exhibition has been created specifically for the Sequim Sunshine Festival. Sponsored by Sound Community Bank.

For complete festival details, see sequimsunshinefestival.com.