Gold Dust Days panning out weekend of old-fashioned fun

With its old-fashioned activities for kids, custom car shows, parade and Civil War encampment, Gold Bar's Gold Dust Days Heritage Festival embraces the colorful history of the Sky Valley and beyond.

Coordinated by the Sky Valley Chamber of Commerce, this year's Gold Dust Days celebration takes place Friday, July 22, through Sunday, July 24, and is being hosted by the Rat Bastards Car Club. The festivities kick off at 4 p.m. on Friday, with the traditional street fair, bicycle decorating station and annual peddle parade around Gold Bar Elementary School. The evening's entertainment will feature live music from 6-8 p.m. by local cover band, Planet Krueton.

Saturday starts off with a 7:30 a.m. pancake breakfast hosted by the Gold Bar VFW. Next is the grand parade at 10 a.m., featuring community volunteers Dick and Arden King as the 2016 Gold Dust Days grand marshals.

Arden is active with the Gold Bar VFW Auxiliary, serving as the president, and helps coordinate the VFW's annual student essay contest. Dick volunteers during VFW events, including community pancake breakfasts, and teams up with Pat Toman every week to drive the VOA Sultan Food Bank truck.

After the VOA's vehicle was recently stolen, Dick and Toman volunteered to do food pickups in their own personal vehicles.

Also at 10 a.m., a community yard sale will be available for browsing in the covered play area at the school, the street fair will open and there will be gold panning, a classic and street rod car show, plus activities at the Civil War encampment area on the south side of U.S. 2.

At noon, Rat Bastards Car Club founders Ron and Marcia Foreman will feature their famous Slow Drags, which are returning to Gold Dust Days for the third year in a row. Vehicles participating in Slow Drags line up as if drag racing, but instead of speeding toward 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 requires an element of precision. 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.

Snohomish County Fire District 26 traditionally plays a key role in Gold Dust Days, providing fun activities for children, including its annual Water Ball contest at 2 p.m. Saturday. Live musical performances will take place throughout the day: Dakota Neuman at noon, Sunday; Speedtrap at 2 and a street party featuring the band, The Motors, from 4-8.

"They play everything from 1950s rock and roll to today's top 10. Bring a blanket, friends, family and dance from 4-8 p.m.,GÇ¥ said Sky Valley Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Debbie Copple.

Sunday's activities will take place 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., including the street fair, community yard sale, Civil War encampment activities, gold panning and activities for kids. A nondenominational church service takes place at 10 a.m., and modern country band La Vida Loca takes the stage at 1:30 to play for the rest of the festival.

The Gold Dust Days festival emphasizes old-fashioned, affordable family fun. In addition to the traditional kids' activities, including gunny sack races, face painting, a chalk art studio and bouncy house, this year they are featuring a popular fair attraction that involves large, inflated clear plastic balls floating in a pool of water.

"This year we have a water pool the kids can get into a ball and run around on the water. He's the same person who does the fair,GÇ¥ Copple said. "He's giving our families a discounted price and longer time to play.GÇ¥

For more information about Gold Dust Days, visit www.skyvalleychamber.com/events-and-attractions/2016old-dust-days.