Harvest Days and Oktoberfest set for Saturday

It’s going to be hopping down at the Elochoman Slough Marina in Cathlamet on Saturday, September 26. The Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce is putting on a Port 1 sponsored event, the first annual Harvest Days Vendor Fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and River Mile 38 Brewery is celebrating the harvesting of hops with their second annual Oktoberfest from noon to 9 p.m.

“All the hops start blooming in September,” Richard Erickson said. “It’s an exciting time because all the breweries want to get their hands on the fresh hops.”

Hops are used in the brewing process for flavor and as a stabilizing agent for beer, and brewers look forward to experimenting with the fresh blooms after using dried hops all year long.

There are several local hops growers, according to Erickson, but their crops weren’t ready to harvest in time for the event, so this year the brewery purchased their hops from Crosby Hop Farm in Woodburn, Ore.

The brewery will have two new beers to introduce on Saturday, including an Oktoberfest beer and a fresh hops beer. There will be displays of fresh hops for visitors to check out and live music from noon until 8 p.m.

So far 16 people have signed up to display and sell their wares or showcase their businesses and organizations at the Harvest Days Vendor Fair, which will be set up near the brewery, to take advantage of the live music.

“The port was looking for an opportunity outside of their normal tourist season to have people down at the marina utilizing the facility and seeing what a great feature it is in the community,” Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce Director Shannon Gildea said. “I thought it could be a great opportunity for local small businesses in town to showcase what they are about in a cool, free way.”

Gildea still hopes that there will be some last minute interest from vendors and has an open invitation to people to sell their arts and crafts, antiques, food and other treasures.

“The booth space is free,” Gildea said. “It’s $10 if you want electricity. It’s a good opportunity to market your business or your group.

“I’d like to get a lot of people down here.”

People who are interested in a booth or who want more information may contact Gildea at the Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce before 5 p.m. on Friday.