Fabulous festival gets glowing reviews

Published 5:10 pm Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Austin Jenckes performs for a large crowd of locals during the festival on Sunday.

Bigger and better than ever, the Festival at Mount Si returned this year with an huge turnout and tons of events that really brought out the best in the community.

The Festival at Mount Si kicked off its festivities on Friday with the Big Band Bash, which had a small but enthusiastic turnout, and an audience that made good use of the earplugs provided. The night’s finale, the first ever Glow Walk, brought out the creativity in people. Kimberly Owens, whose son, Owen, was lit head-to-toe with glow sticks, said she had used about 200 sticks between their two costumes

“I was worried there was going to be a Pinterest mom here, but I just zip-tied them together and hung them on him,” she said.

Saturday morning, crowds lined East North Bend Way from the roundabout all the way down to Twede’s Cafe. The intersection of Ballarat Avenue and East North Bend Way was particularly crowded as that was the location of the judge’s stand. Dance groups, cheerleaders, unicyclists, armored vehicles, the grand parade had it all. Each group got time for a performance in front of the judges while the announcer announced their names and activities within the community.

Activities picked up at Si View Park after the parade. A large and cheering crowd gathered for the annual cherry-pie eating contest, sponsored by (who else?) Twede’s Cafe. Ten-year-old Philip Hale won the piggy trophy after a bit of considering from judge Kyle Twede. He didn’t quite get down the two pies he predicted beforehand, but said he’d be able to eat more “tomorrow, if there’s any of this left.” As he talked, his dad and brothers were helping themselves to the remainder of his pie.

David Butterfield won the adult division, and the respect of his competitors, when he started on his second pie about halfway into the five-minute timed contest.

Sunday’s festivities featured Austin Jenckes performing on the main stage for a large crowd of fans. Booths and food stands were open all day while martial arts demonstrations, local band performances, and a huge chili-cooking contest took place.

Jon and Kara Werth, entrants in the chili cooking contest for a fourth year, expressed how much they were enjoying the event while they were hard at work preparing their chili.

“Its a fantastic event with a great sense of community,” Kara said.

The biggest crowd on Sunday formed around the second annual “unofficial” wife-carrying race. Couples competed in a timed race across an obstacle course for the grand prize of the wife’s weight in beer from the sponsoring Growler Station. It was a close race, but Jeff and Melissa Griswold were able to claim first place.

A boy named Griffin is chosen to start the Glow Walk Friday night.

Glow stick sellers Tina McCollum and Kellie Sanchez did brisk business before Friday night’s Glow Walk.

Joey Owen, with sister Kelly and dad Mark watching, perfects his bubble-blowing skills during Friday night Festival at Mount Si activities.

Children lined up throughout the Festival for rides on the swinging Pirate’s Revenge ship.

Marina Kearney of Snoqualmie works her Washington Delivered Goods food booth with her 20-month-old son Frederick on her back.

Sandy Kangas and her dog Cookie bring home another trophy for best trick in the Amazing Pets contest.

Youth band Destination Unknown performs at the Big Bend Bash Friday at Si View Community Center.

Saturday’s grand parade was led by a carriage pulled by six horses.

Mount Si High School cheerleaders standing on each other shoulders as they perform their cheer for the parade judges.

Mount Si High School cheerleaders standing on each other shoulders as they perform their cheer for the parade judges.

The Valley Moose Lodge had a group of motorcycles riding along side them during the parade.

Snoqualmie Police drove their massive tactical rescue vehicle during the parade, with firefighter Patricia Bendezu from Peru waving to the crowd.

Search and Rescue volunteer Bree Loewen throws shirts into the crowd as the Seattle Mountain Rescue truck pulls through the parade.

Snoqualmie Valley Unicycle Club members risk it all to impress the judges.

Painter Hester Mallonée was inspired to start working on an abstract piece during the Festival at Mount Si art show Saturday. The Federal Way artist normally paints more realistic subjects.

Marietta Modl of Snoqualmie works on a rooster painting during Saturday’s art show.

Children compete in the cherry pie eating contest, in front of a cheering crowd, with Kyle Twede acting as announcer and judge.

Kyle Twede, left, congratulates pie-eating champion David Butterfield on his win in the contest Saturday.

Adults compete in the grass volleyball tournament at the Festival Saturday.

Sarah Johnson leads her goat, Cheddar, to the stage for pet costume contest. Cheddar, done up as a butterfly, took second place to a dog in a sparkly bee costume.