Cool blast for a hot party: Favorites roll on at Festival at Mount Si

Published 11:53 am Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Brother and sister Landen and Izzy Hearing were soaked but happy as the final parade car rolled past.

They were among a horde of children—and a few adults—who danced in the cooling spray of a local fire truck in the finale of the Festival at Mount Si Grand parade. This was the first parade ever for Landen, 9, and Izzy, 6.

“I like the small-town parade,” said mom Sharesa. “So far, so good.”

With construction on at Si View Park, the Festival saw some changes this year, but most popular events returned. The parade lasted nearly two hours, and the Festival still drew thousands to Si View Park.

Last year’s champs dominated again at the Twede’s Cherry Pie Eating contest.

Billy Cooper, among adults, and Tessa Lewis, 11, in the children’s competition, cleaned their plates. Other comers simply did their darndest to keep up, some hungrier than others. Little Joel Hale, of North Bend, giggled his way through the entire event, his face and hands goey with cherry filling

Teen competitor Garrett Loudenback’s eyes goggled as Luther Gunderson, a.k.a. Star Pie, wolfed down pie next to him, occasionally stopping to mug for his family.

Loudenback had already eaten a full lunch and breakfast. He dubbed himself “Kamikaze,” because “I think this might kill me.”

“I gave it a shot, man, that’s what it’s all about,” he said.

Displaying the Arts at Festival Hall, weaver Hilde Gettinger of Fall City showed younger visitors how to work the loom, passing on the techniques to a new generation.

One small girl could barely hold the shuttle at first. But with Hilde’s help, she soon got it.

“Next thing you know, she just did it,” Gettinger said. “It’s marvelous.”

Mount Si Cheerleaders Avery Dahline, Josephine Owens, Jannel Rasmussen and Katy Black hiked down to the Snoqualmie River’s South Fork to release more than 700 rubber ducks for the North Bend Duck Derby, a benefit for Camp Eybasut, a local burn camp.

The cheer team had spearheaded the duck drive, and were already preparing for the school season and the first Scarlet and Gray game on August 24.

“I’m ready for this season, and just to show everyone at school what we’re working on,” said Black.