October's Columbia River Country Days to feature all things Wahkiakum Grown

Columbia River Country Days, October 2 and 3, will feature all things Wahkiakum Grown, including farm tours and a gourmet menu of local courses served on the Grays River Covered Bridge.

Friday kicks off with a Slow Moving Parade, led by Rob Stockhouse and his league of friends driving tractors, classic trucks and all things slow moving. The parade will travel through downtown Cathlamet at 3 p.m. and end at the Two Islands Farm Market. The Farm Market will feature an old-fashioned corn roast, pumpkin patch, kids’ train rides around the farm by the Historical Society train, and music by the Wahkiakum Acoustical Guitar Society. 4-H pie-bakers will be selling a variety of pies whole and by the slice at the market, including marionberry. Friday evening at 7 p.m., 4-H film-makers will showcase their films and show a fun family movie at the Skamokawa Grange.

Farm Tours begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, and feature farms on Puget Island and Skamokawa, including The Inn at Crippen Creek Farm. Crippen Creek Farm owners, Don and Kitty Speranza, run a small farm and bed and breakfast, and have been busy this year with riparian restoration work with the Wahkiakum Conservation District, as well as baking artisan breads sold at the Cathlamet Market and bread subscribers. The Speranzas and other local farmers will open their farms to share their experiences with visitors.

New this year, Kay Walters is coordinating a Wahkiakum Grown Meet and Greet, Saturday morning at 10 a.m. at the fairgrounds, showcasing local crafters and their products. The Meet and Greet will feature light appetizers, and the opportunity to meet several locally grown businesses.

The Wahkiakum High School Senior Class will be selling pies as a fundraiser for their class prom at the Cathlamet Hotel, Saturday 1 to 3 p.m.

Also new this year, the Johnson Park Art Group will host an art show Saturday at Johnson Park in Rosburg, 2:30 to 4 p.m. Ten percent of proceeds go to benefit Johnson Park.

Finally, Columbia River Country Days will culminate with the Gray’s River Covered Bridge Dinner, with seating at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, and a casual social at the Grays River Grange after the dinner. Parking for the dinner will be at Johnson Park, with shuttles running to the Covered Bridge. Parking for seniors and disabled will also be available on the south side of the Covered Bridge.

Tickets for the dinner are limited, and are available at the Bank of Pacific in Cathlamet and Naselle, and at the Extension office in Cathlamet at 25 River Street. The dinner seating is first come first seated; participants are asked to be prepared to make new friends. Reserved seating is available only with the purchase of full tables of eight. Tickets are $35, and $25 for seniors over 72 and veterans.

The dinner will feature gourmet courses of local salmon, chicken and chanterelles, vegetables, potatoes, and a fruit dessert; all prepared by award-winning chef Mark Bernetich. Chef Bernetich is executive chef for Sysco, and former chef for the Heathman Hotel in Portland. Bernetich will be assisted by 4-H leader Carol Ervest of Rosburg, farmer and chef Fred Johnson of Naselle, 4-H youth, and other volunteers in the dinner preparation. All proceeds from the dinner go to the Wahkiakum 4-H Youth Development program.