If you love the Pokemon phase or want to see what it’s all about, you have the chance at the upcoming ChehalisFest on Saturday, July 30 in downtown Chehalis. The Lewis County Historical Museum, Vernetta Smith Timberland Library and Chehalis Renaissance team are joining together to bring the fun. “We will be placing nine ‘Poke-stops,’ some with lures, going down all the way down Market Street,” says Andy Skinner, chair of this years’ ChehalisFest. “Pokemon Go is a lot of fun, like geocaching but with a virtual aspect.”
The day starts out at the Lewis County Historical Museum, where Skinner and others will be serving up a hearty pancake breakfast for $6. Check back later and you can renew your energy with a $3 hot dog lunch. A variety of vendors featuring their arts and crafts will also draw you in as you search for that perfect gift or decoration. Folk and pioneer-themed music will be entertain while you eat and shop.
If Pokemon isn’t your thing but Harry Potter is, you can look for eight ‘Harrys’ stationed around Chehalis. Kids can get a passport and have it stamped at each station, then when they’re finished, turn it in to Book ‘n Brush where it will be put in a barrel to be entered for a drawing for prizes. Book ‘n Brush is providing this activity in honor of the eighth Harry Potter book being released on July 31.
The Lewis County Literacy Council will be in on the fun with live readings from Harry Potter books.
Book ‘n Brush will also have a large Angry Bird station and big bubble wands for kids to try out. “The best part is seeing all the kids and the fun they have,” reports Sherry Nickerson of Book ‘n Brush.
Kids will also be mesmerized by the balloon artist at Vernetta Smith Timberland Library, Stop in for a movie late in the afternoon.
Bethel Church members will be on hand, providing the always-popular face-painting, and also giving kids a chance to expend some energy and get some exercise on the inflatables.
Budding artists can get inspired by watching ARTrails artists practicing their craft through sidewalk art, pottery, and paintings.
The whole family can create their own keepsake of the special day with the photo booth provided by Studio K.
For the adult ChehalisFest attendees, there are plenty of fun things to do as well, from a car show by Chariots Car Club to a Taste of the Pacific Northwest on Boistfort Street. For the great price of $12 before the event to $15 the day of, the Taste offers samples of local beer, wine, or spirits, along with amazing food samples from 14 vendors. The cost of the event includes admission to Saturday evening’s street dance, featuring local favorite, Backfire Band.
Perhaps you remember when Crazy Days used to happen with all the businesses having sidewalk sales. It’s part of ChehalisFest now so whatever you do, don’t miss out on all the great sales taking place outside on the sidewalks.
While most of the fun is happening in downtown Chehalis, don’t neglect other areas out of the downtown core with activities sure to please both children and adults. If you start the day out at the pancake breakfast, you can get free tickets to the steam train rides being offered at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. at the Centralia-Chehalis Railroad & Museum. But hurry! You can only get the tickets at the breakfast and they are distributed on a first come, first serve basis.
After the steam train ride, stop in at the Veteran’s Memorial Museum. You’ll be able to see and touch some of the displays, while learning about the history, strength and courage of our military.
Take that future pilot over to the Chehalis-Centralia Airport, where kids ages 8-17 have the rare chance to take to the skies with free airplane rides.
How about a fun, heart-pounding car race sure to excite motorsports enthusiasts of all ages? Oregon Rally Group is holding the ChehalisFest Rallyx (rally cross) out at the Port of Chehalis. Almost any car can enter and there will be races on both Saturday and Sunday, keeping the excitement going.
Other sponsors include Advocate Printing and Twin Cities Trading Post. Taste of the Pacific Northwest sponsors are Butler Surveying, Daytona West Tires, Hillier, Scheibmeier & Kelly, JJ Sauter Trucking Inc., M&K Town Store, Market Street Pub, Shop N Kart, The Loft, The Silver Agency, and Yard Birds.
No matter your age, ChehalisFest has something fun and interesting for you to do, while celebrating all that makes Chehalis a great place to live and visit. Don’t miss out, it’s happening all day on July 30.
