Bald Eagle festival planning underway

Cathlamet’s annual festival, Bald Eagle Days is fast approaching. Festival organizers say with gas prices at an all time high, there will be festivities to keep folks engaged all day Saturday.

Tanja Winebrenner, executive director of the Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce, event sponsor, has developed a partial program of events for the day, and she added that the Chamber is accepting parade and vendor applications for the festival until July 12.

This year's festival theme is "Art from the Heart."

The weekend kicks off on Friday afternoon with an art contest using sidewalk chalk. The contest will be from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and all ages may join in. This will be followed by the annual dance at the city dock featuring the band “Quick Release” from Astoria hosted by the Rat Tap Tavern.

Saturday morning, from 6:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m., the Cathlamet Kiwanis Club will be serving breakfast under the covered area at the Elochoman Marina. The cost is $5.00 for ages six and up. Five and under are free.

The two mile fun run/walk starts at 9:30 a.m. Participants can pre-register by picking up an entry form available at numerous area businesses or register the day of the event.

This year’s parade theme is “Art from the Heart” and the Grand Marshal is recent retiree George Butkus from the Bank of the Pacific. Master of Ceremonies of the event will be Bill Coons. The parade starts at 11:30 a.m.

New events taking place this year include a dual art show on either end of Main Street at the old fire hall and at the Julia Butler Hansen house and will feature at least 13 local artists. Both shows will be open from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

This year, a dunk tank will be set up with high school athletes and local “celebrities” in the line of fire. The price will be three balls for $1.

The main stage will have performances over the course of the day. The Naselle Marimba Band will be performing in the afternoon.

A kid’s area set up at the Bank of the Pacific will include a large slide and various games for children to play.

The Elochoman Marina will have the beer garden and the fireworks finale will begin at 10 p.m.

Sunday, the marina will host the Wooden Boat Festival from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. featuring vendors, a kids’ boat building table and a Coast Guard rescue demonstration and more.

The Bald Eagle Day planning committee would welcome anyone's input and participation, Winebrenner said.

"You do not have to be a Chamber member to help with the festival," she said. "Everyone is encouraged to come out and help."

The committee's next meeting will be June 18, 5:30 p.m., in the Wahkiakum Community Foundation Room of the Scarborough Building, Broadway Street, Cathlamet.

For more information, contact Winebrenner at the Chamber of Commerce at 795-9996