Bald Eagle Days, boat festival coming

The 29th Annual Bald Eagle Day will begin on July 16 with a special Two Islands Farm Market beginning at 3 p.m. The Chief Wahkiakum Trolley will bring visitors to the market from the Marina and downtown areas. There will be great produce and fruits, artisan breads and pastries, old world sausages, goat, lamb, beef and chicken by the cut, fresh cut flowers, along with music and hot food. On Main Street in front of Ace Hardware, the Sidewalk Art Contest will showcase young and adult artists from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. A panel of judges will review these sidewalk creations and prizes will be awarded.

Saturday will bring the Bald Eagle Day parade at 11 a.m. with the theme the Power of Community: Saluting Heroes and Volunteers. Scott Johnson from Naselle and member of SW District Washington State Patrol will be the grand marshal. Additional honorees will follow Johnson, representing veterans, first responders, and community volunteers. The street festival, featuring many vendors, food with Chamber Buffalo Burgers, Sharon’s Pizza and PJ’s, outside seating at the Riverview and the Cathlamet Market's barbecue. Several bands will play on Main Street, which will also be the site of the kids' area with games and a new slide with a bounce house, the Fire Department water fight and the Community Network sponsored dunk tank. Later Saturday, the Elochoman Marina is the location for the Chamber Beer Garden, musical entertainment and the fireworks show on the Columbia River.

Sunday’s Wooden Boat Festival will begin at 10 a.m. and run until to 2 p.m. This year will feature food by Two Islands Farm Market, an FFA barbecue, and Bottoms Up Espresso. Raffle tickets for a wooden boat hand-made by Mike Baccellieri will be on sale. The final drawing will be on Labor Day. There will also be a Coast Guard rescue demonstration. There will be free games for kids and those who come dressed as sailors or pirates will also get rewards. Call Paula at the Marina for more info at 795-3501.

Bald Eagle Day parade and vendor applications are available at the Chamber office. Also, the Chamber needs some extra volunteers to help on Friday and Saturday. If you can offer a couple of hours or more, or for more information about the event, call chamber coordinator Lynda Gerlach at at 795-9996.