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 129th year, the event includes a car show, a parade, and a new tradition, the Trashion Show for clothes made mostly of recycled materials. See, Sequim is still literally making its own fun.

The excellent bird-watching on the mudflats of Grays Harbor Natural Wildlife Refuge takes center stage with a weekend of guided and family activities for anyone who doesn't know a dowitcher from a marbled godwit. Many of the short talks are free.

Like Oktoberfest, but springier. Leavenworth celebrates the season Bavarian-style with traditional dance and music, including a maypole and yodeling. But every weekend of the month has some form of festivities, like an Alps music festival May 4 and 5, a chainsaw carving contest May 18–19 and alpenhorn music at the end of the month.

The world goes purple for Spokane's big spring event, which includes a Saturday night parade through downtown. Other happenings range from the classy (the royal tea party at the Historic Davenport Hotel) to the informal (a brew fest). The Cruzin' the Falls car show takes place on Spokane Falls Boulevard. 

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 include 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.

Will the guest of honor show up in this third annual event? Probably not, but plenty of bigfoot hunters will descend on Forks and make the town forget about that whole Twilight scourge of vampires. The event covers three days of talks and films, including advice on what to do when encountering the big guy (please take a photo for the rest of us).