July presents a jam-packed month of community festivals but nowhere is it more evident than in the South Lewis County community of Toledo. The small town that serves as one of the gateways to Mount St. Helens begins July with its annual Cheese Days celebration and ends with a steelhead fishing derby that's not to be missed.
Toledo Cheese Days
July 9-13,
Toledo
Info: toledolionsclub.org/cheesedays.html#events
Cheese Days’ roots stretch back to the founding of the Cowlitz Valley Cheese Association in 1919. After the first paycheck distribution, everyone gathered for cheese sandwiches and coffee and so much fun was had, they decided to make it an annual tradition. The cheese factory closed in 1945 but Cheese Days has stayed popular in the hearts of Toledo locals and has become a three-day event packed with things to do. Mike Morgan, who owns Morgan Arts Centre and Gallery 505 with his wife, Di, a member of the Cheese Days committee, said his “must see” recommendations would vary from family to family. If you have small children, the frog jump is sure to be a hit, he said. If you’re an athlete, the tennis or golf tournaments or Cheddar Challenge run might be more your style. Or if you’re an epicure, don’t miss the wine and cheese tasting, featuring locally made wines, cheeses, chocolates, beer and spirits.
“But I’d say number one is the parade and the car show,” Morgan said.
Schedule of events:
Thursday, July 10
• 6- 9 p.m. Toast of the big cheeses at Morgan Arts Centre. Tickets: $12.50 per person at the door.
Friday, July 11
• 10 a.m. Cheddar Open Golf Tournament at Newaukum Valley Golf Course. Four-man scramble. Cost: $55 per person, lunch provided. Golf carts not provided. Pay at the course. Contact: John Sanford 864-6474 or Dale Pomeroy (360) 864-6317. All proceeds go to the Toledo Lions Club.
• 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Garage sale at the Head Start building.
• 3 p.m. Tennis tournament. Anyone 12 years of age and over is welcome to participate. Entry fees: $5 per event. Please preregister. Info: Signora Armstrong, (360) 864-2594.
• 4:30 - 7 p.m. Stuffed potato bar at Toledo Senior Center. Suggested donation: $8.
• 6 - 7:30 p.m. Frog jumping contest at Toledo High School track. Entry Fee: $1 per frog. No limit on the number of entries. Frogs available for rent. Cash prizes.
• 6:30 - 9 p.m. Bingo at Toledo High School multipurpose room.
Saturday, July 12
• 7 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. or as long as the food last – ham and all you can eat pancake breakfast at Toledo Senior Center. Suggested Donation: $5.
• 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. Car and motorcycle show at Toledo Middle School football field. Free admission.
• 8 a.m. Cheddar challenge run. Registration 6:45-7:45 a.m. at the Toledo Fire Station. Race starts at 8 a.m. - 10 a.m. 3-mile run/walk and 8-mile run for all ages. Cost is $5 for race or $15 for race with T-shirt. Contact: Toledo Fire Department (360) 864-2366.
• 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Garage sale at the Head Start building.
• 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Kids Fun Fest at Toledo Middle School gym.
• 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Quilt and art show at Toledo Middle School commons room.
• 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Library sneak peek The Friends of the Toledo Library will host a sneak peek of the new community library with a bake sale fundraiser at 241 Cowlitz Street.
• 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Railroad exhibit at Fir Lawn Funeral Chapel.
• 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Cheese Days Bazaar at Kemp Olson Memorial Park.
• 11 a.m. Cheese Days Parade.
• Noon – 1 p.m. Free cheese sandwiches at the Presbyterian church.
• Noon - 5 p.m. Barbecue at Toledo Market Fresh parking lot. Price: $7 per person, featuring Louisiana shrimp boil.
• 1 p.m. Auction at Toledo Middle School football field.
• 2:15 p.m. Sandy’s Pizza eating contest at Toledo Middle School field. $100 prize.
• 3 - 8 p.m. Wine and cheese tasting event on the grassy knoll behind post office, across the street from City Hall. Tickets $10. Also featuring local beer, chocolates and spirits.
• 4 p.m. Women’s alumni soccer game at Toledo High School field.
• 6 p.m. Men’s alumni soccer game.
• 9 p.m. - midnight free street dance at Toledo Market Fresh parking lot.
Sunday, July 13
• All day tennis tournament continues.
• 8 a.m. Horseshoe tournament. Sign up by 8 a.m. Start playing at 8:30 a.m. Entry fee $5. Total payout each class. Contact: Stan Spears (360) 864-2096.
• 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Garage sale: fill a bag for $1 at the Head Start building.
• 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Railroad exhibit at Fir Lawn Funeral Chapel.
• 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Bazaar at Kemp Olson Memorial Park.
• 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. All class reunion at Kemp Olson Memorial Park. Featuring THS Class of 1954 (60 year) and the Class of 1964 (50 year). Toledo Lions Club will feature a beef barbecue lunch for $7 for adults and $6 for kids and seniors. Lioness Club of Toledo selling cheesecake for $3 a slice. Following the barbecue will be a pie auction and beef auction.
Fourth Annual Steelhead Derby
July 26
Along the Cowlitz River in Toledo
This one-day fishing derby started four years ago and last year drew in about 60 anglers hoping to snag the big one, as well as a host of prizes. First prize is $300, second prize is $200 and third prize is $100 and there will be a $50 mystery weight fish prize.
Fishing begins at 5 a.m. Participants can fish along the Cowlitz anywhere from Barrier Dam to to Gearhart Gardens in Longview. Weigh in is no later than 4 p.m. at the Toledo Boat Launch.
Cost to participate is $25 per person for adults and kids can participate for free. If you are fishing in a group, either in a boat or on shore, everyone in your party needs to be registered for the derby or you will be disqualified. At the end of derby, there is a free barbecue for participants. Cowlitz Tribe donated 20 steelhead for barbecue. The public can attend the dinner for a suggested donation of $5.
Organizer Rick Lovell, who started the derby with his wife, Tonya, said between the dinner and door prizes, the entry fee is very reasonable. And the money raised goes to a good cause: 25 percent of funds go to Friends of Cowlitz and 25 percent to Vision Toledo.
“People love to steelhead fish and this is a way for them to have a little competition and just be on the river and it’s a good time,” Lovell said.
Napavine’s Funtime Festival
July 18-20, Napavine
Now in its 48th year, Napavine’s Funtime Festival has included many different events and activities over the years, but the heart and soul of the festival remains the same said Jerry Owens, Funtime president. When asked to name his favorite event during the three days of fun, Owens said it was small town community fun of the entire event he loved best.
“I think it’s just the people and the different activities, getting together and visiting, especially those who come back for the various reunions that weekend,” Owens said. “Everybody is just getting reacquainted and having fun and the kids are just a joy to watch.”
Schedule of Events:
Friday July 18
• 7 p.m. — Princess coronation at grade school gym.
Saturday July 19
• 11 a.m. — Parade.
• All Day — entertainment, vendors and activities throughout town mainly, in the shopping area.
• 6 p.m. Bingo at Sahara Pizza.
• Dark — movie under the stars at Sahara Pizza.
Sunday July 20
• 7 a.m. — Breakfast at Sahara Pizza.
• 9 a.m. — Car show at shopping center parking lot in front of Annie’s Market.
Tenino's Oregon Train Days
July 25-26, Tenino
Info: (360) 264-4609 or https://www.facebook.com/oregontraildaystenino
For more than 40 years Tenino’s Oregon Trail Days has been giving folks a taste of yesteryear. The annual event hosted by Puget Sound Free Trappers and the Tenino Area Chamber of Commerce features a black powder shoots, a 5K run, historical lessons at the Train Depot museum as well as a fun two-day music festival. But the best parts are the ones with the history lessons, said event chair Maria Chambers.
“Take a dip in the quarry pool,” said Chambers when asked what a “must-do” event at Oregon Trail Days is. “And you have to check out the black powder shoot. It’s so interesting to see what things were like back then. Plus they’re just a good group of people.”
Schedule of Events:
Friday
• Noon-7 p.m. Quarry pool open. Admission $1.50 for those living inside Tenino School District boundaries and $3.50 for those who live outside district boundaries.
•6:30 p.m. - midnight Four Square Mile Music Festival at Tenino City Park Little League Baseball Field. All ages (kids under 8 free). Beer garden for 21 and over (photo ID required). Tickets $15 per person for single day pass or $25 for a 2-day pass. Info: foursquaremilefestival.com.
Saturday
• All day vendors throughout town, rock and gem show.
• 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Tenino Depot Museum open to the public with kids activities featuring shake cutting, log cabin cutting and corn meal making.
• 10:30 a.m. First annual Oregon Trails Day 5k in Tenino to benefit THS cross country. Finishers receive medallion. Run starts on parade route right before parade begins. Age group awards top three each category. Cost is $35 per person with T-shirt or $25 per person without T-shirt. Family discounts available. Register at South Sound Running, Tenino Key Bank, or online at runoly.com.
• 11 a.m. — Parade.
• Noon - 7 p.m. Quarry pool open. Admission $1.50 for those living inside Tenino School District boundaries and $3.50 for those who live outside district boundaries.
• 12:30 p.m.-6 p.m. Black powder shoot.
• 6 p.m. Black powder shoot potluck.
• 6:30 p.m. - midnight Four Square Mile Music Festival at Tenino City Park Little League Baseball Field. All ages (kids under 8 free). Beer Garden for 21 and over (photo ID required). Tickets $15 per person for single day pass or $25 for a 2-day pass. Info: foursquaremilefestival.com.
Planes, Trains & Automobiles
July 25-26, Chehalis
Info: (360) 748-8885 or chamberway.com
Replacing Chehalis’ traditional Crazy Days, Planes, Trains and Automobiles has become a festival all of the city of Chehalis gets behind. From cars to trains to airplanes, you can see it all during the two day event.
Schedule of Events:
July 25
• Concert on the Green benefiting Popes’s Kids Place at Riverside Golf Club.
July 26
• Pancake breakfast and hot dog lunch at the Lewis County Historical Museum.
• See and touch military vehicles at the Veterans Memorial Museum.
• RallyCross at the Port of Chehalis.
• Chariots Car Club Car Show and the Les Schwab Car Show Trailer in downtown Chehalis.
• ARTrails will have art displayed throughout downtown Chehalis.
• Free Young Eagles flights for ages 8-17 at the Chehalis-Centralia Airport.
• Ride the steam train at the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad & Museum.
Carrina Stanton is a local freelance writer specializing in pieces for the Life section of The Chronicle. She and her husband are raising their two daughters in Chehalis.
