9 Quirky Local Parades In Washington State

Washington State knows how to celebrate with flair! From naked cyclists to farm equipment decked in lights, the Evergreen State hosts some of the most eccentric parades you’ll find anywhere in America. These community celebrations showcase local culture, creativity, and the wonderfully weird spirit that makes Washington special. Pack your camera and sense of adventure as we explore these unforgettable street spectacles.

1. Procession of the Species in Olympia

Fantastic creatures roam Olympia’s streets during this Earth Day celebration where participants transform into everything from butterflies to whales. Founded in 1995 to support the Congressional renewal of the Endangered Species Act, this parade has evolved into a beloved community tradition.

Three simple rules govern the event: no written words, no motorized vehicles, and no live animals. Instead, human creativity brings nature to life through elaborate costumes, giant puppets, and dance.

Children and adults alike spend months crafting their nature-inspired creations. The result is a moving artwork celebrating biodiversity and environmental stewardship that draws thousands of spectators annually.

2. Sunnyside’s Lighted Farm Implement Parade

Farm equipment never looks as magical as it does during December in Sunnyside, when combines, tractors, and harvesters transform into twinkling masterpieces. Since 1989, this small agricultural community has hosted what’s now considered the Northwest’s premier lighted parade.

Local farmers spend weeks wrapping their massive machinery in thousands of colorful lights. These illuminated giants then rumble down the main street, creating a surreal agricultural light show unlike anything else in America.

The parade celebrates the Yakima Valley’s farming heritage while bringing holiday cheer to this rural community. Visitors from across the state brave the winter chill to witness this uniquely Washington spectacle.

3. Seafair Pirates Landing in Seattle

Cannon fire and swashbuckling shenanigans announce the arrival of Seattle’s infamous Seafair Pirates each July. This rowdy crew aboard their ship “Moby Duck” storms Alki Beach in full pirate regalia, officially launching the city’s month-long Seafair celebration.

These volunteer buccaneers have been a Seattle tradition since 1949, appearing at over 200 events annually. Their beach landing draws thousands of families who cheer as the pirates wade ashore, brandishing swords and firing blank cannons.

After conquering the beach, these bearded marauders parade through town, passing out plastic doubloons and posing for photos. Their good-natured plundering has become an essential part of Seattle’s summer identity.

4. Langley’s Mystery Weekend Parade

Murder mystery meets small-town parade in this Whidbey Island tradition where costumed characters from an unfolding whodunit march through historic Langley. Each February, this quaint seaside village transforms into a living game of Clue.

The parade introduces suspects and witnesses related to a fictional murder revealed earlier that morning. Participants wear period costumes, often set in the 1920s or 1930s, creating a time-travel experience for onlookers.

Unlike traditional parades, this one invites audience interaction. Spectators receive clue sheets and can question the characters as they pass by. The event culminates Sunday afternoon when amateur sleuths submit their solutions to the mystery.

5. Bellingham’s Ski to Sea Parade

Bellingham kicks off America’s original multisport relay race with a parade celebrating outdoor adventure and environmental stewardship. Floats shaped like kayaks, bicycles, and running shoes reflect the seven-leg relay race that follows the next day.

Local businesses, schools, and community groups join the festivities, often sporting quirky costumes related to their mountain-to-sea journey. A highlight includes teams competing in the relay showcasing their athletic prowess and team spirit.

Dating back to 1973, this parade honors the region’s spectacular geography spanning from Mt. Baker to Bellingham Bay. The event embodies the Pacific Northwest’s outdoor culture while maintaining a distinctly homemade, community-centered vibe that larger parades often lack.

6. Tacoma’s Daffodil Festival Grand Floral Parade

Yellow blooms blanket elaborate floats in this 90-year-old tradition celebrating Pierce County’s once-thriving daffodil industry. Starting in 1934 as a modest garden party, this parade now winds through four cities – Tacoma, Puyallup, Sumner, and Orting – in a single day.

Each float must incorporate fresh daffodils – thousands of them – creating fragrant, golden masterpieces. The parade’s royal court features princesses from local high schools who wave to crowds from atop these floral wonders.

Beyond its beauty, this parade commemorates the Japanese-American farmers who established the region’s daffodil industry before many were interned during WWII. Their agricultural legacy continues to bloom each spring through this vibrant community celebration.

7. Sequim’s Irrigation Festival Parade

America’s oldest continuous festival celebrates the engineering feat that transformed a near-desert into farmland. Since 1896, Sequim has honored its irrigation ditches with a quirky parade featuring everything from dancing sprinklers to royalty riding atop water-themed floats.

The Grand Pioneer Logger carries a ceremonial ditchdigger’s shovel, symbolizing the channels that brought water to this naturally dry region in the Olympic Peninsula’s rain shadow. Local high school bands perform while wearing water-droplet costumes or carrying decorative watering cans.

What makes this parade particularly unusual is its celebration of irrigation ditches – perhaps the only such parade in America. The event perfectly captures how Sequim’s identity remains intertwined with the human-made waterways that made settlement possible.

8. Port Townsend’s Kinetic Sculpture Race

Part parade, part race, this wild event features human-powered art vehicles designed to travel on land, water, and sand. These fantastic contraptions – often resembling dragons, giant fish, or imaginary beasts – must navigate through downtown Port Townsend, across Port Townsend Bay, and through a muddy obstacle course.

Pilots dress as outrageously as their vehicles, donning everything from superhero costumes to Victorian steampunk attire. The “parade” portion kicks off the race as these sculptures roll down Water Street while spectators cheer and judges award prizes for art, engineering, and theatrics.

Started in 1983, this “triathlon of the art world” emphasizes creativity over speed. The coveted “Mediocrity Award” goes to the team finishing exactly in the middle – perfectly capturing the event’s playful spirit.

9. Poulsbo’s Viking Fest Parade

Horned helmets and longships take over “Little Norway” each May as this Scandinavian-themed parade celebrates the town’s Nordic heritage. Founded by Norwegian immigrants in the 1880s, Poulsbo honors its roots with this Viking invasion that would make Thor proud.

Local residents don elaborate Viking costumes complete with shields, swords, and fur capes. The parade’s centerpiece features a massive wooden longship on wheels, filled with bearded warriors bellowing Norse chants. Scandinavian dance groups perform traditional folk dances along the route.

Unlike most American parades, this one incorporates authentic Nordic customs including the crowning of Miss Viking Fest and lutefisk eating contests afterward. The entire downtown transforms into a slice of Scandinavia, creating an immersive cultural experience unique to this corner of Washington.