Rhododendron Festival events run non-stop from Wednesday, May 15, through Sunday, May 19.

May 15 starts off relatively light, yet still high-speed, with only the Trike Races at 6 p.m., but don’t be late for registration at 5 p.m.

The Trike Races run on Water Street, from Madison to Monroe streets, and are intended for entrants aged 1-6 years, riding tricycles, two-wheel bicycles with training wheels, and “strider” no-pedal balance bikes, so long as they’re 12 inches tall or less.

The Trike Race check-in and assembly are planned in front of City Hall on Water Street.

Thursday, May 16, also has only one event, the Pet Parade starting at 5:30 p.m., but be sure to arrive on time for registration starting at 4:30 p.m., before the parade proceeds on Lawrence Street, from Van Buren to Taylor streets.

All pets are welcome, but pets who pose risks to others are asked to be kept in cages.

The Pet Parade check-in and assembly is planned at Van Buren and Lawrence streets.

Friday, May 17, sees the Rhody Fest events kick into high gear, with the Kiddies Parade followed closely by the Hair and Beard Contest, and the Bed Races wrapping up with a “Dance Party Extravaganza.”

The Kiddies Parade check-in and assembly are planned at the Uptown Community Center, at Lawrence and Tyler streets, with registration commencing at 3:30 p.m., in time for the parade to start rolling on Lawrence Street at 4 p.m., from Fillmore Street to Chetzemoka Park.

Check-in and assembly for both the Hair and Beard Contest and the Bed Races are planned at Water and Monroe streets, with registration at 5:30 p.m. and judging at 6 p.m. in front of the American Legion hall on Water Street.

The Bed Races kick off at 6:30 p.m. on Water Street, heading from Monroe to Madison streets, and competitors are encouraged to build their own racing “beds.”

The evening is set to conclude with the Unexpected Brass Band playing for a post-race dance party, again at the American Legion hall, from 7:30-9 p.m.

Even before the Grand Parade on Saturday, May 18, that morning and early afternoon have no shortage of activities, with the Elks’ Rhody Fest fundraiser pancake breakfast running from 8-11:30 a.m., the Rhody Fest patrons’ 9-hole scramble starting at the Port Townsend Golf Course at 10 a.m., and the Sunrise Rotary’s “Running of the Balls” rolling on Monroe Street at 12:30 p.m.

Registration for the Grand Parade runs from 8 a.m. to noon at the Visitor Center on Sims Way, with the assembly taking place uptown, per the information that will be provided to the parade’s entrants.

The Grand Parade is expected to run from 1-3 p.m., from uptown to downtown Port Townsend, wrapping up in time for the cake picnic at Pope Marine Park at roughly 3 p.m.

Late parade applications may be submitted online at rhodyfestival.org/grand-parade-application, with the cost for political, business and commercial applications standing at $100, while all other applicants can enter for free.

The Jefferson County Fairgrounds’ floral building is set to host a 3-7 p.m. registration session for Jefferson Healthcare’s Rhody Run the following morning, while the Port Townsend Elks Lodge plans to host a spaghetti feed from 5-7 p.m.

Meanwhile, the New Old Time Chautauqua opens the American Legion hall’s doors at 4:30 p.m. for its “Big Show” at 5 p.m., with the Legion hall’s doors reopening at 7:30 p.m. for the 8 p.m. evening show, and further details available at chautauqua.org.

Sunday, May 19, starts with multiple speeds of athletic activities, as 9 a.m. sees the start of both the Rhody Fest scholarship 18-hole “best ball” tournament, at the Port Townsend Golf Course, and the Rhody Run starting at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds, with the 10K kicking off promptly at 9 a.m., while the 5K starts slightly later, at 9:15 a.m.

Further details are available at rhodyrun.com.

And the Chautauqua returns that Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Festival volunteers are still needed to serve as judges, traffic monitors and the like, and they can sign up online at at rhodyfestival.org/volunteers.

Shifts are available on May 17, from 3-7 p.m., and May 18, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., but a one-hour minimum is requested.

Email rhodyfest@gmail.com for further details.