Making a splash: Fall City Day festival-goers ?undaunted by low river

Published 2:43 pm Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Ingenuity, as always, won the day in Fall City Saturday, where the exceptionally low river forced a new start to the annual Ducky Derby. Volunteers dumped ducks into a floating corral in the middle of the river and then released them to float in a mass toward the waiting net of Jane Krein.

“That’s probably the cleanest start I’ve ever seen,” said volunteer Steve Allen.

Clean was not a factor in many of the days other events, though. Firefighters got drenched in their dunk tank, artists got covered in sawdust and stone chips while demonstrating their trade, henna artists covered hands and feet in fanciful designs, and all ages got faces full of juice in the watermelon-eating contest.

Also, the Trash Apes, arranged by Fall City Arts, got a little messy as they walked about, picking up litter and the occasional item of clothing from people.

Winners of the sloppy, but fun watermelon-eating contest are, by division:

5 to 7 – Caleb Christensen, 5, Fall City

8 to 10 – Tie between Nathaniel Stienke, 8, Fall City and Eleanor Gil, 10

11 to 13 – Tate Satterlee, 12, Fall City

14+ – Sergio Gomez, Fall City.

At the Fall City Masonic Lodge pancake breakfast, David Hisel, Redmond and Robert Coats, Fall City, show off their T-shirts as Lodge Master Corey Birch, Issaquah, center, flips a pancake.

Elise, Olivia and Ana Northcott of Ames Lake are ready for fun at the parade;

Youngsters take over the streets on trikes and bikes for the kiddie parade;

Snoqualmie Valley Unicycle Team members put on a show during the parade.

Jim and Peggy Richter ride a classic tractor in the Fall City Day parade Saturday.

Anji Donaldson starts the ice cream trucks to get the Fall City Day Kiddie Parade rolling.

A youngster waves from a fire truck in the Fall City Day parade.

Artist Brian Major creates a scene on the sidewalk in Fall City.

Jeremy Danglash, 15, of Fall City, tries to sink a firefighter Saturday afternoon at Fall City Day. “I kept hitting the bar,” he said after a few frustrating throws, but promised he’d be back later.

Sundog Henna artist Shawn Taylor creates a free-form design on a customer’s hand Saturday.

Sean Christensen helps contestants in the watermelon-eating contest.

Attracting attention wherever they want, the Trash Apes created a stir at Fall City Day Saturday.

Miles from Chicago provided tunes all afternoon at the park.

Volunteers Jeff Donaldson, left,  and Bryce Tjossem prepare for the Duck Derby launch Saturday at Fall City Day. Low river levels forced organizers to set up a mid-stream start for the ducks’ annual race down the river.

Carl Lind, Fall City Day Grand Marshal, puts a hand on his wife, Nadine’s shoulder, during the parade.