It's summer in the Sky Valley and it seems like every weekend there is something fun to do. This week, preparations are underway for Gold Bar's Gold Dust Days festival, a quintessential small-town celebration with a flair for the historic.
Coordinated by the Sky Valley Chamber of Commerce, the three-day Gold Dust Days festival will kick off at 3 p.m. on Friday, July 24, and last through 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 26. Located in the heart of downtown Gold Bar, Gold Dust Days celebrates the community with family-friendly activities, arts and crafts, car shows, live music, food and plenty of activities for kids.
The festival will feature a variety of old-fashioned children's activities, including a bouncy house, Chalk Classic art wall, lawn games, lasso lessons, face-painting, $5 pony rides and gunny-sack races against District No. 26 firefighters.
A bicycle decorating booth will be open on Friday afternoon from 4 to 6 p.m., hosted by the brand new 2015 GÇô 2016 Gold Dust Pageant Royalty. All kids are welcome to come down and add bling to their bikes in preparation for the Kids' Pedal Parade, which will start at 6 p.m. and wrap around Gold Bar Elementary School (419 Lewis Ave.). The pedal parade will be led by Gold Bar Mayor Linda Loen.
Saturday will be all about cars, and live entertainment. The festivities begin at 8 a.m. with a $5 pancake breakfast hosted by the Gold Bar VFW, which is located next to the school on 4th Street. At 10 a.m., the grand parade will begin at the Gold Bar Family Grocer, and work its way down Lewis Street. This year's Gold Dust Parade Grand Marshalls are Dave and Christina Sivewright, a recently married couple known for their patriotic volunteerism.
Dave, also known as the Highway 2 Freedom Runner, can frequently be seen running along U.S. 2 with a four-foot by six-foot American flag. His wife Christina singlehandedly spearheaded the American Flag project, successfully fulfilling her vision of seeing Sultan's Main Street lined with American flags during holidays and other special occasions.
Together, they serve as the co-chairs of Sultan's annual Veterans Day celebration, which is held every November.
Also kicking off at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 25, is the Classic and Street Rod Car Show hosted by the Rat Bastards Car Club. In addition to the traditional Rat Bastards pre-1972 Classic Car show, this year's program will feature a brand new event tailored towards the younger generation. Meant to honor longtime Gold Bar resident Dennis Blansett, the Young Guns Car Show is for drivers from 16 to 21 years old and is open to all cars, including European, Asian and domestic.
Blansett, a well-known car enthusiast, passed away on March 25 at the age of 75.
The entry fee for the Young Guns Car Show is $10, and all proceeds will go to the Dennis Blansett Scholarship Fund at the Sultan Educational Foundation.
At high noon, Rat Bastards Car Club founders Ron and Marcia Foreman will feature their Slow Drags, which is returning to Gold Dust Days for the second year in a row. Vehicles participating in Slow Drags line up as if drag racing, but instead of speeding towards the finish line, competitors have to coast, after giving their cars an initial burst of gas. The last car to cross the finish line is announced the winner. Slow drag racing takes a high degree of vehicular acumen. Too much gas and the cars cross the finish line too quickly. Not enough gas and they don't make it all the way down the track.
The car show will also feature live music performed by Nikk "DangerGÇ¥ Granger, who will entertain car show attendees with a medley of rock and country classics.
Ongoing throughout the day on Saturday will be the street fair, food vendors, hay rides, live music and a Water Ball tournament featuring local firefighters. Musical entertainment will be provided by local country star Dakota Neuman, Dawson Shaw, Sunday Speedtrap and the Shortcutz. Prospector's Plus will host a gold panning booth located across from Highway 2 Park, with $20 Pan-a-Cans available for aspiring miners to practice their technique.
The street fair will continue from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 26, along with a 10 a.m. non-denominational church service at the Mountain View Chapel (230 Lewis Ave.). Live bluegrass music performed by the Low Down Ramblers will begin at noon. Activities will be ongoing throughout the weekend at the 1860s-era Civil War Encampment, including cannon firings, musket shot demonstrations and more.
Facilitated by the Washington Civil War Association, the Civil War Encampment will be set up on the south side of U.S. 2 in Gold Bar's Highway 2 Park. The camp will feature a special, one-of-a-kind ceremony on Sunday, as former Gold Bar Mayor Joe Beavers renews the vows that he and his bride Anne made many years ago.
Guests are welcome to attend the formal, period-dress event, and join in the ensuing celebration.
For more information on Gold Dust Days, please visit: http://www.skyvalleychamber.com/. For more information on the Rat Bastards car show, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/RatBastardsCarClub?fref=ts.
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