Best of the Valley: Festival at Mount Si is locals’ favorite event

Published 5:20 pm Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Named the best Valley event by readers in the 2011 Best of the Valley poll, North Bend’s summer celebration, The Festival at Mount Si, has long kept locals entertained during the dog days of summer.

While its roots are a little hazy, according to Festival Committee President Jill Massengill, the festival’s various guises—it was formerly known as Alpine Days—have been cheering crowds for 40 years.

What makes the Festival special? Something for everyone, said Massengill, who has helmed the festival for 10 years and been a vendor for nearly two decades.

“We have a great range of events and features that offer fun and community participation on many levels,” she said.  “Everything from an amazing art show to the Tour de Peaks bike race and a whole lot in between—a chili cook off, live music, belly dancing, fireworks, a grand parade, pet events, a cherry pie eating contest… fun for the whole family.”

Planning for the 2011 event is already underway. Not all residents know that planning actually begins the prior October for the August event.

There are many groups to thank, but Massengill said the unsung heroes of the festival in recent years have been the staff at the Si View Community Center. That group has been very helpful and integral to a smooth operation.

For the future

In future, there is a possibility of partnering with the City of North Bend and Q-13 FOX TV for an adventure race. That may not happen in 2011, “but the addition is very exciting,” Massengill said.

The festival committee would love to have an abundance of on-site parking for the event.

“The situation is challenging, but we are working on it,” she said.

The 2011 event is August 12 to 14 at Si View Park.

You can learn more about the Festival at Mount Si at its website.