May 2025 City Manager's Newsletter Message

Doesn’t Rhody look great at 90?

From bed-racing to trike-racing, from pet parade to grand parade – and a suite of events and fun for everyone – Rhody Festival is still going strong after 90 years.

A celebration of rhododendrons like this is uniquely Port Townsend. Rhody was first conceived of in 1935 by local businessman Clive Buttermere to bring attention (and the Hearst News organization’s newsreels) to Jefferson County. The first parade happened in 1936 (note the photo above). New traditions were born over many decades, and many continue: golf tournaments, cow chip throwing contests, beard contests, running of the (golf) balls, running races, car shows, kids’ parades – it’s grown over the years from one day to the good part of a week.

However you decide to spend Rhody Week, there are always opportunities to connect as a community at the many events and celebrations, to support our local businesses (in fact, back many years, that’s how community members voted for the Rhody Queen), and to revel in the wonder of our local rhododendron blooms during this magical time of year.

Thanks to all of you who keep our tradition alive and make this fantastic festival possible – individuals, organizations, businesses, City staff like police and streets teams, visitors, all those who came before us – it takes a village to have this much fun. I hope to see you out and about!

Photo: Rhody Parade with City Hall in the background, May 28, 1936. From the JCHS archives, photographer unknown: https://cdm16785.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16785coll5/id/483/rec/1