The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG—The Waitsburg Celebration Days Committee has been working for months to organize the city’s annual Celebration Days festivities, which run May 17-19. The three-day event, held the third weekend in May, was organized as a placeholder for the former popular Days of Real Sport which featured horse racing at the Waitsburg Fairgrounds.

State spending cuts took horses off track, but Waitsburg Celebration Days brings another kind of rider to town. Participants come from near and far to participate in Karen’s Ride, the popular mountain trail ATV poker run that continues to grow in popularity each year.

The weekend promises fun for the entire family with a parade, food vendors, a classic car show, Brewfest, live music and dancing.

Friday

The weekend kicks off on Friday evening with an ATV Sunset Cruise that departs, in groups of 10, from the fairgrounds starting at 5:30 p.m. Riders will drive mountain roads, stopping along the way to hear about historical points of interest. The ride ends back at the fairground’s bonfire.

Auto enthusiasts will want to be downtown at 6:30 p.m. for the auto show evening cruise which departs from Preston Park, makes its way down Main and ends up at the fairground’s bonfire. Everyone is welcome to participate; just join the lineup at 6 p.m.

The entire community is invited to enjoy Bonfire, Brats & Brews with live music by biGfONT at the Waitsburg fairgrounds from 5-9 p.m. The Waitsburg Commercial Club will serve up the brats for $10/plate for tickets prepurchased at Eventbrite.com ($15 at the door) and the beer garden is close by the cozy bonfire.

Dry camping is available all weekend for $15 for the first night and $10 for subsequent nights.

Saturday

American Legion Post #35 will host a hearty all-you-can-eat breakfast at Waitsburg Town Hall from 7 to 10 a.m.

Festivities kick off on Main Street with a kiddie parade at 9:45 a.m. Kids may line up at the Main Street Bridge at 9:30 to participate; there is no need to register.

The annual WCD old fashioned parade, with the theme “Celebrating Waitsburg – The American Way,” will make its way down Main Street at 10 a.m., led by Celebration Days Queen Rebecca Holderman.

Groups, families and individuals who would like to be in the parade can download an entry form at https://www.waitsburgcommercialclub.org/events. The old-fashioned parade features horses, old cars, floats and lots of town spirit.

Right after the parade, be sure to stop in at the Fire Department on Main Street where firefighters will be giving out free ice cream bars along with tours of the department and apparatus'.

The Annual Classic Auto Show will take place in Preston Park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration forms may be found at https://www.waitsburgcommercialclub.org/events. Call Fred Gonzalez at (509) 301-9688 with questions.

Karen’s Run Poker Ride will depart the Waitsburg fairgrounds at 1 p.m., with check-in beginning at 11:30 a.m.

Riders will leave the fairgrounds and travel a 35-mile marked course through the scenic foothills of the Blue Mountains, drawing cards at seven checkpoints along the way. The ride ends back at the fairgrounds with an optional run through the mud pit for the final card. Awards and raffle items will be presented at 5 p.m., with wins for the best five cards out of seven. Riders may purchase an unlimited number of hands for $10 each or 3/$25. Hands are $15 if purchased after May 10. Jackpots are: 1st place-$500, 2nd place $300, 3rd place $200. Poker players must be 18 years or older, but participants can ride without playing poker.

Upon their return to the fairgrounds, riders will get down-and-dirty playing in the mud pit. The Lions Club Beer Garden will be open from 1 p.m. through midnight. Burgers will be available during Burgers, Band and Brews beginning at 5 p.m.

The annual Waitsburg Spirited “One-of-a-Kind” Brew Fest moves outdoors to Main Street this year, where tastings, entertainment and street dancing will be available from 12-6 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person on Eventbrite.com or at the door.

The Bruce House and Wilson-Phillips House Museums will be open following the parade, and vendors will be selling their wares on the museum grounds. The Wilson-Phillips House will feature a special display on the history of floods in Waitsburg and surrounding areas.

Saturday night will wrap up with the popular PEO-sponsored Burgers, Band & Brews event at the Waitsburg fairgrounds. Enjoy an evening of dinner and dancing for only $15. Minors can enjoy a burger dinner for $7. Dinner will be served from 5 to 8 p.m., with local bluegrass band Switchgrass Delta providing the entertainment.

At 9 p.m., the ever-popular local favorite FrogHollow band will take the stage in the Don Thomas Building for an evening of dancing. Beverages will be available for purchase from the Lions beer garden.

Sunday

The weekend will wrap up with a cowboy church service in Preston Park at 9 a.m. led by Pastor Matt Wyatt.

A’ “Bet on Your Soapbox” Derby for kids in grades 3-6 will take place at 11 a.m. at the Main Street Bridge. Check in is at 10:30 a.m. Registration forms will be accepted through Thurs., May 16. Forms, event info and rules can be found at https://www.waitsburgcommercialclub.org/events

Tickets to most events are available at http://www.eventbrite.com under the individual event name or may be purchased at the door. Registrations may also be found at https://www.waitsburgcommercialclub.org/events.