Is this the weirdest annual event in Washington? It dates back to 1896 and celebrates, well, irrigation ditches on the Olympic Peninsula. (You made your own fun in 1896, you see.) For its 131st year, the event includes a historic walking tour, a car show, a parade, and a Trashion Show for clothes made mostly of recycled materials. See, Sequim is still literally making its own fun.

It's like Oktoberfest, but springier. Leavenworth celebrates the season Bavarian-style with traditional dance and music, including a maypole and yodeling. While Maifest itself is celebrated for just a few days, every weekend of the month has some form of festivities, like a Celtic festival, a rock climbing fest, a chainsaw carving contest, and alpenhorn music at the end of the month.

Dozens of working artists on Camano Island swing their studio doors wide open for the annual public tour. As one of the longest-running studio tours in the Pacific Northwest, the two weekends bring endless inspiration and behind-the-scenes artsiness. 

The world goes purple for Spokane’s week-long celebration, which includes a Saturday night parade through downtown. Other happenings range from the classy (a slew of galas and luncheons) to the informal (a brew fest and street vendors). The always-popular Cruzin’ the Falls car show closes out the weekend.

Break out the horn helmets for this salute to Scandinavia. A parade through the middle of town and running races keep things busy, and a carnival and street fair offers rides for kids. The Viking Tour pairs bike racing with a brew fest, and the strongman events measure just how powerful these modern day Vikings are.

Cosplay as a contestant on HGTV’s Flea Market Flip at the sprawling Packwood treasure hunt. The wares spread over a vending area more than one mile long, and this type of foraging won’t return again until Labor Day. 

Memorial Day Weekend brings 5 stages worth of performances—blues, theater, storytelling, symphony, and just about everything but the kitchen sink—to the breezy city on the shores of the straight of Juan de Fuca. In addition to all over 70 live performances (some free) a street fair delivers artisans and food vendors for a full festival vibe.