The Centralia Downtown Association (CDA) would like you to know one thing: Summerfest, the traditional Fourth of July celebration in the heart of the Hub City, is very much on for 2025.
Centralia is gearing up to celebrate Independence Day in grand style with the return of its beloved annual event — Summerfest 2025!” CDA announced in a news release on Friday afternoon.
So why the early declaration ahead of an event that’s still more than two months away? A news release issued by Lewis County earlier in the day on Friday.
“Lewis County issued a press release that unintentionally created confusion for the community,” the CDA wrote. “While all the daytime events are still happening, from the pancake breakfast through the parade and more, the events traditionally held at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds are not taking place this year.”
Lewis County’s announcement declared that Summerfest festivities at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds would be canceled this year. With the Lewis County Demolition Derby Association disbanding in 2024, meaning the traditional Fourth of July derby wouldn’t be happening in 2025, the only remaining event at the fairgrounds was the fireworks show that has always been held after the derby.
While the fireworks have indeed been canceled this year, the rest of Summerfest is still on the agenda for downtown Centralia this Fourth of July.
According to the CDA and the City of Centralia, the decision to cancel the fireworks was reached after careful consideration by the City of Centralia and the Centralia Downtown Association (CDA), together with the Summerfest Committee.
The Summerfest Committee is composed of multiple organizations that volunteer every year to put on the free community event, including the city, the CDA, Centralia College, Cooks Hill Community Church, Centralia Rotary Club, Run Amok, Lewis County Transit and other supporting organizations.
“We’re excited to bring Summerfest to downtown Centralia for our third year in a row,” CDA Executive Director MacKenzie McGee said. “We ask that the public refer to our website, https://downtowncentralia.org/, for accurate information as to the events taking place on July 4. We look forward to welcoming the community to celebrate with us in downtown this year!”
According to the news release from the city and CDA, “Lewis County explored multiple other pre-fireworks show options and made the ultimate decision not to move forward with a Summerfest event at the Fairgrounds this year. Subsequently, the Summerfest Committee decided to cancel the fireworks with the thought that the high cost for a four-minute firework show would ultimately be disappointing for the community with no other event to accompany it.”
Centralia Deputy City Manager Amy Buckler said the city is excited to be a part of celebrating the nation's birthday and the city’s 150th birthday this year.
“While the city intended to sponsor the fireworks this year, we now plan to redirect the funding to another community oriented event in the future,” she said.
Summerfest 2025 events include a 5K fun run, pancake breakfast, field activities, family fun, live music, face painting, a magician, the annual parade and much more throughout all of downtown Centralia.
Lewis County ultimately recalled its news release and issued a new one with a note on Friday: “This press release has been revised to clarify that the city of Centralia’s Summerfest activities\ will move forward as planned.”
Lewis County announcement
In its news release, the county said the decision to not have events at the fairgrounds on July 4 was made following an evaluation of several key factors that would significantly impact the planning, execution and overall success of the event.
Key considerations included the cancellation of fireworks by the City of Centralia, the water main replacement project, uncertainty around entertainment, budget and staffing limitations, and ongoing review of grandstand repairs, according to the news release from the county.
“While we were eager to bring a festive, community-centered event to the fairgrounds this summer, the responsible course is to pause and set our sights on a stronger return in the future,” Fionna Velazquez, Lewis County fair and events manager, said in a news release. “This was not an easy decision, and we appreciate the energy and enthusiasm from all who helped explore the possibilities.”
Additionally, a significant infrastructure upgrade is scheduled during the spring and summer months to replace the aging water main system at the fairgrounds. The project will address persistent and costly leaks, resulting in improved efficiency and long-term savings for taxpayers, according to the county’s news release.
While discussions around hosting a motocross show or similar entertainment gained momentum, logical challenges, budget limitations and time constraints proved too great for this year’s timeline, according to the county.
Additional programming, marketing and infrastructure needs exceeded current planning capacity and available funding, according to the county. Needed repairs and safety improvements to the grandstand areas are being evaluated, and hosting a large-scale event could delay or interfere with those efforts, per the release.
Board of County Commissioners Chair Scott Brummer expressed full support for the decision and noted that the event should return in 2026.
“Our goal is always to deliver safe, enjoyable and well-executed events that reflect the best of Lewis County,” he said in the release. “With major improvements underway at the fairgrounds, we believe the most responsible path is to pause this year and build a strong foundation for Summerfest’s return in 2026. We appreciate the community’s understanding and look forward to celebrating together again in the near future.”
While Summerfest events at the fairgrounds will not take place this year, the community can look forward to the 2025 Southwest Washington Fair, scheduled for Aug. 12 through Aug. 17. Themed “Saddle Up for the Southwest Washington Fair,” the six-day event will feature agricultural exhibits, carnival rides, live music, local vendors, 4-H and FFA showcases and family-friendly entertainment.
In addition to routine improvements, Lewis County is working on plans for an equestrian center at the fairgrounds.
The proposed facility is envisioned as a year-round space to support horse shows, riding programs, training events and regional competitions. Planning is underway to secure funding and design a venue that will serve both the equestrian community and the public.
“The equestrian center is an important investment in the future of the fairgrounds and in Lewis County’s deep agricultural and rural heritage,” Brummer said.
“This facility will not only expand what we can offer during the fair, but also open the doors to new events and economic opportunities throughout the year.”
