Bald Eagle Days start tomorrow

Land Of The Free, Because Of The Brave is this year's theme for the 30th Annual Bald Eagle Days Festival, beginning tomorrow. Kicking off the festivities will be the sidewalk art contest in front of the Bank of the Pacific, then live music, vendors and fresh veggies at Two Islands Farm Market on Puget Island followed by the grand opening and ribbon cutting of Cathlamet's Tsuga Gallery Artisan Market on Main Street with music by Hidden River.

Saturday morning opens at the Marina with the Kiwanis breakfast and the Fun Run starting on Main Street. At 11 a.m. will be the Bald Eagle Day Parade with a mini submarine taking part. The Chamber buffalo burgers will be available along with various food vendors selling elephant ears, pizza, cotton candy and more.

Sunday’s Wooden Boat Festival at the marina will feature more food, vendors, raffles,demonstrations, and wooden boats.

Other new events and appearances to watch for include:

--The Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership will have a booth on Main Street and offer free rides in a 30-foot canoe at the marina.

--A bag pipe band will march in the parade and provide entertainment later in the afternoon, Chamber officials announced Tuesday.

--Forty-three vendors are expected to display on Saturday, 15 more than last year's 28 vendors.

--The Sons of Norway will run a bingo game Saturday, starting at 4:30 p.m. Wahkiakum on the Move will provide shuttle service from town to the Norse Hall.

--The Chamber's trolley will run between the high school parking lot and the marina during the day, with people able to catch rides around the intersection of Main and Broadway streets.

--Saturday's Main Street entertainment includes mini cheerleaders; Noe No Ka Mauna Hula group from Longview; Wahkiakum Acoustic Guitar Society; Pandora (recent Wahkiakum High graduates Phillip Doumit, guitar and vocals, Trevor Gorley, drums, and James Goldsmith, bass, and local fire fighters in a water ball tournament at 4 p.m. At 6 p.m. at the marina, Salty Dogs will perform up to the 10 p.m. fireworks show. Salty Dogs features a melodic balance of traditional, folk, old classic rock 'n' roll and blues of the '50s, '60s and '70s.