History buffs, families and parade fans alike can enjoy a wealth of events and discoveries at the 72nd annual Snoqualmie Railroad Days.
The Northwest Railway Museum is organizing the festivities for the second year in a row. Museum staff plan another weekend full of railway celebrations mixed with good eats and fun for both young and old.
“Railroad Days has grown tremendously since last year,” said festival organizer and Museum marketing director Sue Van Gerpen. “It will be bigger and better. We’re really excited to have two full days and Friday evening.”
Starting Friday afternoon, festival-goers can take their pick of vendors offering jewelry, arts and crafts, and satisfy their stomachs treats from cotton candy and shaved ice to pizza and tacos.
The grand parade begins at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 21, on Railroad Avenue. Afterwards, visitors can head over to the Snoqualmie Depot, where train buffs have set up historic railroad equipment and exhibits on how the railroads worked in the past and how they operate today.
Volunteers from the Northwest Railway Museum will give demonstrations with a railroad-tie spacing machine and show rail artifacts used in the logging industry. Visitors can also take motor car rides, and a special model exhibit will show Snoqualmie and the museum itself.
To learn about modern railroading, a 48-foot long exhibit semi-trailer will be open at the festival.
There’s something for car buffs, too. Auto lovers will enjoy a showcase of 200 classic cars at the Legends Car Club Show.
The tikes aren’t forgotten, either. The “Kid’s Training area” will be available for families to keep children of all ages busy and entertained during the weekend. With entertainment from Eric Ode, Nancy Stewart, Brian Vogan, Clay Martin’s Puppet Theater, Banana Boogie Racers, inflatable amusements, climbing wall and fast pitch radar booth, the younger crowd will not want to go home.
The Main Stage at King Street and Falls Avenue hosts musical entertainment from rock to country to dance music while Railroad Days participants make their way through the festival.
Snoqualmie Railroad Days Schedule
Friday, Aug 20
• Vendors setting up shot in historic downtown Snoqualmie
Mainstage (at King and Falls Ave.):
• 6 to 7 p.m., Left Coast Gypsies
• 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., Street Dance featuring “HiWatt”
Saturday, Aug 21
• 7 a.m., Railroad Day Run packet pick-up and race day registration
• 7 to 11 a.m., Snoqualmie Firefighters Association Pancake Breakfast at Snoqualmie Fire Station, 37600 SE, Snoqualmie Parkway
• 9 a.m., start of 1k children’s run
• 9:15 a.m., start of 5k and 10k Railroad Days Run
• 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Eagles Beer Garden featuring Snoqualmie Falls Brew
• 10 30 a.m., Railroad Days Run awards ceremony
• 10:45 a.m., 10k/5k run courses close
• 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., Railroad Days Grand Parade begins
• 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., train rides roll at Northwest Railway Museum Snoqualmie Depot
• 11:30 a.m. to 3: 30 p.m., Children’s Stage at Snoqualmie Depot
• Noon to 2 p.m., Free wagon rides at Carmichael’s (River and Falls Ave.)
• Noon to 5 p.m., Kid’s training area, Entertainers, inflatable amuseuments, Rootbeer Garden and more.
• 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m., 3:30 p.m., Trailer Car rides at Snoqualmie Depot
Mainstage (at King and Falls Ave.):
• 12:30 to 1:15 p.m., Clan Gordon
• 1:30 to 2:15 p.m., Cascade Jazz
• 2:45 to 3:45 p.m., Twistin’ Sixes
• 4:15 to 5:15 p.m., The Stacy Jones Band
• 5:45 to 6: 45 p.m., Cory Wilds Band
• 7:15 to 8:15 p.m., Joie Calio
• 8:45 to 10 p.m., Street Dance featuring “The Kingdogs”
Children’s Stage (at Snoqualmie Depot):
• 11:30 a.m., Eric Ode
• 12: 30 to 2:30 p.m., Clay Martin
• 2:30 p.m., Nancy Stewart
• 3:30 p.m., Brian Vogan
Sunday, August 22
Main Stage (at King and Falls Ave.):
• Car Classic Car Show Rock & Roll/Blues
• 11 to Noon, Paul Green and Straight Shot
• 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., The WIRED! Band
• 2 to 3 p.m., Petty Thief
Children’s Stage (at Snoqualmie Depot):
• 11:30 a.m., Eric Ode
• 12:30 p.m., Brian Vogan
• 1:30 p.m., Clay Martin
• 2:30 p.m., Nancy Stewart
