04/23/2026
DEMOCRACY FEST WAS A HUGE SUCCESS!!!
The first ever Whidbey Democracy Fest left many participants asking if it could be an annual event. Over 350 people attended, including about 50 young future voters, and quite a few “dogs for democracy” that were out walking their humans and stopped in to explore.
Tony Cladusbid gave a land acknowledgement, everyone sang “America the Beautiful together to start the day, after a welcome by League of Women Voters President Judy Hucka.
A few highlights of the day:
Michele Reagan, Island County Elections supervisor gave two workshops on election security. Participants were impressed to hear that staff take annual handwriting recognition training, and each and every ballot signature is reviewed by trained staff!
Paul Revere, and the under-recognized 16 year old Sybil Ludington rode horses around the farm and performed a rousing skit in costume about their courageous rides.
Teams of four competed in a trivia contest
With questions from the U.S, Citizenship test. At least one team passed in each round, but found the questions challenging. What is one thing Alexander Hamilton is known for anyway?
In addition to kids craft tables, children voted for their priority if they were in charge of helping the animals on Whidbey. Reducing firework noise for dogs and other animals was the clear winner, followed by less plastic in the water for the orcas.
The weather was sunny and participants enjoyed their Whidbey pies and wood fired pizza at tables outside while listening to a variety of live music.
All in all, it was a community building day, reminding us all that “democracy is not a spectator sport!” -from Joy Lyon, LWV Whidbey's Events Committee lead
Thank you Joy for everything you do! And thank you for the many volunteers who made this event possible!
