Railroad Days event to highlight history and community
Published 8:30 am Thursday, August 18, 2016
If any one thing can be the focus of a three-day event, then history is it for Snoqualmie’s Railroad Days, coming to Railroad Avenue, the Snoqualmie Depot, Railroad Park and Sandy Cove Park Aug. 19 to 21.
“Trains, Timbers, Tradition” is the theme for this year’s event, starting Friday in historic downtown Snoqualmie. That theme is reflected in some adjustments to the annual festival, including a big spotlight on history.
“We want it to become a community event focused on what is in fact a very rich history of the Snoqualmie Valley,” said Railroad Days chairperson Paul Timmerman.
Toward that end, the Northwest Railway Museum will offer steam-train rides all weekend and the depot grounds will feature historic re-enactors from Fort Nisqually, along with representatives from the Snoqualmie Valley Historical Museum in North Bend, the Washington Civil War Association, the Snoqualmie Falls Hydroelectric Museum.
The Seattle Museum of Flight will also be represented, said Timmerman, because “they are a big part of what made Washington state what it is.”
Another nod to history will be the popular timber sports demos, set for 1 and 4 p.m. Saturday and again at 11 a.m. Sunday, all at Sandy Cove Park. Professional and competitive lumberjacks will demonstrate some of the skills of the trade, and audience members may get a chance to try throwing an axe.
The music and arts lineups will emphasize local artists, as well, said Timmerman.
“We tried to refocus it back on local talent, local history, local art, that’s who we want to be,” he said.
Acts you’ll find on the festival stages will have familiar names such as the Redwing Blackbirds, Bob Antone, the Left Coast Gypsies on the Main Stage and Sno-Valley Winds, Jessie Oliver, and Ryegrass on the Arts Stage. Arts in the (Railroad) Park will feature a variety of local artists in action, demonstrating their skills and displaying their works.
Arts in the Park will run Saturday and Sunday, but two outdoor arts events, the Plein Air Paint Out and the Kids’ Paint Junction, are Saturday only. Paint Out artists will work to complete a Snoqualmie scene of their choice, starting at 9 a.m., in time for the artist reception at 3 p.m. at the Black Dog Cafe, when the winner will be chosen. The Kids’ Paint Junction, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., will let little ones try their hands at art.
For tradition, the festival will also feature the annual firefighter pancake breakfast, 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the Snoqualmie Fire Station, the grand parade at 11 a.m., free wagon rides Saturday afternoon, model train shows at the American Legion Hall, and all day Sunday, the Legends Classic Car Show, complete with fun games for all ages.
One tradition has gone by the wayside this year, the annual fun run, started by the sound of the train whistle in past years.
Timmerman said the run might be back in future years.
Railroad Days may see the start of a new tradition, too, with the city of Snoqualmie’s purchase last year of a synthetic skating rink. The ice-free rink will be set up Saturday afternoon, 1 to 4 p.m., on King Street, next to the Depot.
“It will be free for everyone in the community,” said Snoqualmie economic development consultant Lizzy Billington.”
The rink, staffed by city workers, will be surrounded by a white picket fence and will, as tradition demands, include princesses, skating, singing and posing for photos.
“The princesses are always super popular with the little ones,” said Billington.
The short-term rink will be both a community event and a promotion of the city’s upcoming winter festival, Dec. 10 to Jan. 1.
For more details on Railroad Days, including the full line-up of bands, visit www.railroaddays.com.
Learn more about the participating organizations at their websites:
Snoqualmie Valley Historical Museum
Washington Civil War Association
