The Tenino Area Chamber of Commerce is preparing to host the 56th annual Oregon Trail Days celebration at Tenino City Park and in downtown Tenino from July 21 to July 23.
“Oregon Trail Days is a longtime beloved event in our community that I remember fondly while growing up here and have participated in it several times.” Tenino Mayor Wayne Fournier said in a news release.
Family fun will abound, especially with events like the pioneer village, which features 35 hands-on activities, including making antler jewelry, apple cider, rope and candles, log cabin notching, log cutting, stone carving and more.
The festival is scheduled to run throughout the weekend and is free to attend. The chamber’s news release included a tentative schedule of events, which is included below but is still subject to change.
July 21
• Washington Agate and Mineral Society’s Rock, Gem and Mineral Show, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Quarry House area.
• Opening flag ceremony with Tenino VFW Post 5878, 10 a.m. at the War Memorial.
• Pioneer Village, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Depot Museum.
• Food, arts and crafts vendors, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with 13 food vendors and more than 40 crafts vendors.
• Oregon Trail Days first rendezvous near the park’s ball fields, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., featuring an encampment with demonstrations of how people lived in the 1800s.
• Face painting by Veronica Brauer and Castle Realty, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. near the park’s main entrance.
• Open mic on the Puget Sound Energy Quarry House stage, noon to 5 p.m., starting with Bill Lenker performing solo acoustic guitar with some banjo. To sign up to perform this day, contact Oregon Trail Days coordinator George Sharp at 360-878-3835.
• South Thurston Fire and EMS information booth, noon to 4 p.m.
• Tenino Eagles Oregon Trail Days dinner and bands, open to the public. Steel Horses Band will be performing and dinner will feature hamburgers.
• Tenino Music Festival at the park, 5 to 11:30 p.m.. Bands performing include The Six, Dogger, and Dany Vernon The Illusion of Elvis. A 90s themed after party hosted by DJ Wes will take place too.
July 22
• Washington Agate and Mineral Society’s Rock, Gem and Mineral Show, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Quarry House area.
• Pioneer Village, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Depot Museum.
• Food, arts and crafts vendors, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with 13 food vendors and more than 40 crafts vendors.
• Oregon Trail Days first rendezvous near the park’s ball fields, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., featuring an encampment with demonstrations of how people lived in the 1800s
• Oregon Trail Days quilt show, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. near the Quarry House, featuring quilts on display made by residents. Those interested in displaying quilts can bring their work to Briar Cottage Quilt Fabrics and Notions before the festival or bring them with them the day of.
• Yelm Amateur Radio Network of Southeast Thurston County demonstration and display, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Oregon Trail Days parade, starting at 10:45 a.m. on Sussex Avenue. Attendees are invited to watch a parade through downtown announced by Editor-in-Chief for The Chronicle and Nisqually Valley News Eric Schwartz and Associate Editor for The Chronicle Aaron VanTuyl. Parade displays will include the citizen and honorary citizen of the year, the parade’s grand marshal, the 56th U.S. Army band from Joint Base Lewis McChord, royalty from other festivals, high school bands, floats and more.
• Creekside Conservancy Traditional Salmon Bake, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in front of the Quarry House. Enjoy delicious salmon and sides prepared by members of the Chehalis Tribe and Lucky Eagle Casino. Plates are $15, with proceeds supporting the Creekside Conservancy.
• Live music at the Puget Sound Energy Quarry House stage, noon to 5 p.m. Starting at noon, Guava Jam, an acoustic group specializing in Hawaiian and 70s music will perform. Then, at 3 p.m., Off Boulevard will perform, featuring swing and jazz standards from the 30s, 40s and 50s.
• South Thurston Fire and EMS wildland firefighting hands-on demonstration and dunk tank, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Blue Ribbon Pie Contest, 1 p.m. at the Tenino Farmers Market on Olympia Street.
• Tenino Eagles Oregon Trail Days dinner and bands, open to the public. Steel Horses Band will be performing and dinner will feature brisket.
• Tenino Music Festival at the park, 5 to 11:30 p.m. Bands performing include Luke and Kaylee, Kyle Murdock and Nikko, and the Olson Bros. Band.
July 23
• Washington Agate and Mineral Society’s Rock, Gem and Mineral Show, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Quarry House area.
• Closing flag ceremony with Tenino VFW Post 5878, 10 a.m. at the War Memorial.
• Community worship service at the Quarry House stage, 10 a.m., presented by First Presbyterian Church of Tenino.
• Food, arts and crafts vendors, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with 13 food vendors and more than 40 crafts vendors.
• Pioneer Village, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Depot Museum.
• Oregon Trail Days first rendezvous near the park’s ball fields, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring an encampment with demonstrations of how people lived in the 1800s.
• Live music at the Puget Sound Energy Quarry House stage, noon to 3:30 p.m. Starting at noon, Ellen “Ellie” Buzzard of Centralia will be performing both covers and original songs featuring country and indie sounds. Then, at 1:30 p.m., Michael Burdman will perform a variety of classic rock, folk and original songs while playing different instruments.
• South Thurston Fire and EMS stove fire extinguishing demonstration, as well as wildland firefighting tools display, noon to 4 p.m.
Additionally, the Tenino Young-At-Heart Theatre will be presenting its performance of The Hunchback of Notre Dame from July 20 through July 23 and July 26 through July 29 at the Tenino High School Commons, located at 500 W. Second Ave. Thursday shows begin at 7 p.m. and weekend shows at 2 p.m., with admission costing $15 for adults and $13 for students and seniors. For more information, visit https://teninoyoungathearttheatre.org/events/.
While the City of Tenino helps the chamber coordinate the celebration, a number of other organizations are involved, including the Tenino Community Service Center Food Bank Plus, South Thurston County Historical Society, Tenino Lions Club, Washington Agate and Mineral Society, South Thurston Fire and EMS, Tenino Young-At-Heart Theatre, the Tenino Farmers Market and Tenino Timberland Library.
“We have a great committee that works well together to put on a wonderful family friendly event,” Tenino Area Chamber of Commerce President Cheryl Pearce said in the release.
Oregon Trail Days sponsors include Chris Hallett-Tyler Whitworth Edward Jones, Lucky Eagle Casino, Puget Sound Energy, LeMay Inc. of Lewis County, Colleen Casey Farmers Insurance, Tenino Title and Tabs and Briar Cottage Quilting Fabrics and Notions.
Additional funding was provided through the Thurston County lodging tax and proceeds from the chamber’s annual Christmas auction.
For more information, visit https://teninoacc.org/events/.
