Toledo Lions Club members are finishing final preparations for the upcoming 104th annual Toledo Cheese Days festival, with the theme for this year’s cheesy celebration being “All-American Cheese.”
The “Big Cheeses” for this year’s Cheese Days are Mike and Di Morgan, Lynn Sorensen and Sharon Peterson-Ripp, who will also serve as the Cheese Days parade’s grand marshals.
Festivities kick off on Thursday, July 10, and continue through Sunday with a variety of events ranging from the famous frog jumping contest, to a parade and car show and, of course, traditional cheese sandwiches along with cheese and wine sampling.
According to the Toledo Lions Club, Cheese Days began in 1919 when the Cowlitz Valley Cheese Association opened a new factory in town.
“More than 100 co-op members held the first gathering on June 15, 1919, at Day’s Grove and celebrated with coffee and cheese sandwiches. Everyone had such a nice time they decided to celebrate again the next year,” the Lions Club’s website states.
Despite no cheese being actively produced in Toledo anymore, 104 years later residents still celebrate the tradition.
For those looking to get their own cut of cheese this weekend in the South Lewis County Community, the following events are scheduled on these days:
Thursday, July 10
• The Toledo Made Art Market, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Art Gallery 505, located at 102 Kellogg Way in Toledo.
• The Toledo Thursday Market, from 2 to 6 p.m. by the boat ramp on Front Street.
• The Big Cheese Social, starting at 6 p.m. at Kemp Olson Memorial Park, located at 600 S. Sixth St. in Toledo. Aside from appearances and a toast to this year’s Big Cheeses, country artists Dakota Robins and Mason Gaul will perform, and a catered dinner from Bonanza BBQ sponsored by The Paula Burrows Team realtors will be available. Tickets are available on eventbrite.com.
Friday, July 11
• The 29th annual “Cheddar Open” golf tournament at the Newaukum Valley Golf Course located at 153 Newaukum Golf Drive in Newaukum. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and is $80 per golfer. The cost includes a lunch, with proceeds going to the Toledo Lions Club. Tee offs begin at 10 a.m.
• The Toledo Made Art Market, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Art Gallery 505.
• The Frog Jumping Contest, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Toledo High School’s football field, located at 1242 state Route 505 in Toledo. Frogs will be available to rent, and cash prizes are available for the top three finishers. The cost to race a frog is $1 per frog per race.
• Bingo from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Toledo High School, with proceeds going to the high school’s girls basketball team.
• Music in the Street, starting at 8 p.m. on Ramsey Way in front of Donna’s Place in downtown Toledo, featuring a performance by country music artist Chris Guenther.
Saturday, July 12
• The Cheddar Challenge Run/Walk, with registration beginning at 6:45 a.m. and the race starting at 8 a.m. featuring both 3- and 8-mile courses. Registration is $20 per person, $30 to include an event shirt and $15 for just the shirt, and the race begins at the Lewis County Fire District 2 firehouse, located at 150 Coal St. in downtown Toledo. The race is sponsored by Toledo Girls Softball.
• The Cheese Days Pancake Breakfast, from 7 to 10 a.m. at the Toledo Senior Center, located at 150 Coal St. in Toledo. Plates are available for an $8 donation and breakfast options include pancakes with eggs and sausage or biscuits and gravy with eggs.
• The 25th annual Cheese Days Car and Motorcycle Show, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the field at the Toledo Middle School, located at 155 N. 5th St. in Toledo. Entry is $20 per vehicle and trophies will be handed out at the end. Food and craft vendors will be at the show as well.
• The Toledo Library Bake and Book Sale, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Toledo Community Library, located at 241 Cowlitz St. in Toledo.
• The Toledo Cheese Days Parade, beginning at 11 a.m. at the intersection of South Fifth and Augustus streets, down Augustus to South Second Street then turning south toward Oak Street before heading west on Oak back to Fifth. Free cheese sandwiches courtesy of Toledo Market Fresh will be distributed after the parade along the route, and Toledo Presbyterian Church members will also be handing out free watermelon slices.
• The Toledo Made art market, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Art Gallery 505.
• The Toledo Cheese Depot Cheese Days Social Makers Market and Picnic, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Bateaux Cellars Winery, located at 288 Smokey Valley Road in Toledo. This picnic will feature a market with Lewis County artisans and producers along with cheese rolling and chucking games.
• The Cheese Days Barbecue, featuring baby-back ribs, corn on the cob, a salad and roll for $12.99 a plate at Toledo Market Fresh, located at 400 Cowlitz St. The barbecue starts at noon and goes until the food is sold out.
• Toledo Fire Department Open House, from noon to 5 p.m. at the Lewis County Fire District 2 firehouse. Free to attend, this event will feature family friendly kid activities, a cooling station and the opportunity to meet local firefighters.
• The Cheese Days Tasting Garden, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Steamboat Landing, located at 115 Ramsey Way in downtown Toledo, with proceeds benefiting vision:TOLEDO.
• Music in the Street, starting at 8 p.m. on Ramsey Way in front of Donna’s Place in downtown Toledo, featuring a performance by Groove Syndicate, along with another concert being performed by Sucker Punch at El Tejano Mexican Restaurant, located at 115 Cowlitz St. in downtown Toledo.
Sunday, July 13
• The Cheese Days Horse Shoe Tournament, beginning at 8 a.m. at Kemp Olson Memorial Park. The tournament will feature beginner, amateur and advanced classes with registration being $5 per player.
• The Toledo All-Class Reunion, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Kemp Olson Memorial Park.
• The Toledo Lions Club beef barbecue, from noon to 2 p.m. at Kemp Olson Memorial Park. Plates are $8 per person and will feature barbecue beef, baked beans, coleslaw, garlic bread, watermelon and a drink. Attendees are advised to bring their own chairs. Following the barbecue, the Lions Club will auction off the leftovers at 2:30 p.m.
• The 21st annual Toledo Volunteer EMS and Firefighters Association dessert auction, starting at 3 p.m. at the Lewis County Fire District 2 firehouse with proceeds benefiting the Association.
For more information on the upcoming events during the 104th annual Toledo Cheese Days festival, visit the Toledo Lions Club at https://toledolionsclub.org/events/cheese-days/.
