A TEAM HUSTLES down the street during the bed race, one of the highlights of the annual Planters Days festival in Woodland. Photo by Mike Schultz
A LOFTY VIEW helped Michael Farrell see the big picture at Planters Days. Photo by Mike Schultz
RILEY STADING watches as her frog takes a leap. Photo by Mike Schultz
JERET GILLINGHAM, left, and his friend Tayler Kellim show the excitement of a carnival ride. Photo by Steve Kadel
RYLAN YEO was among several competitors who entered frogs in the jumping contest. Photo by Mike Schultz
PLANTERS DAYS parade marshals Walter Hansen Sr., in the rumble seat, and George Tsugawa, ride in the parade as Walter Hansen Jr. drives. Photo by Mike Schultz
Cindy Anderson spent the second afternoon of summer moving and grooving in the middle of a street in downtown Woodland.
She twisted and gyrated to the music from disc jockey Rich Rubin of Battle Ground, who appropriately played “Dancin’ in the Streets” over the public address system.
“I can’t help it,” Anderson said while twirling to the sounds. “It’s in the street and it’s OK.”
The Rose City Classics’ member was right in the middle of the Woodland car show sponsored by her club on the final day of the Planters Days festival. To her left was a red 1948 MG. To her right was a 1949 Chevrolet Fleetline fastback owned by Don Zavalney of Ridgefield.
Several dozen people meandered through the street on June 22 admiring the cars and leaning toward engines for a closer look. Rubin’s music was a perfect accompaniment for the automobiles, many of which were from the 1960s. A regular on the car show circuit, Rubin explained that those who like the older cars prefer 1960s music. He tried offering some 1970s tunes, but the reaction wasn’t good.
What’s the attraction of 1960s music?
“Words you can understand,” Rubin said. “And nice melodies that you can dance to in the street.”
As he spoke, the Zombies kicked in with “She’s Not There” and several people smiled in recognition.
The four-day Planters Days festival is the oldest continually-operating civic event in Washington, according to the Woodland Chamber of Commerce. It began in 1922 to celebrate the construction of dykes that prevented flooding from the Columbia and Lewis rivers, giving farmers hope for planting their crops.
The annual car show is one of the highlights. This year it included a 1929 Ford Model-A, a 1934 Dodge with green and purple stripes, and a 1934 Ford roadster.
Chuck Brewer of Kelso, who entered his 1973 Dodge Dart, called himself a lover of late 1960s to early 1970s muscle cars.
Scott and Linda Duckwortth of Longview exhibited their 1961 Chevy Corvair station wagon with a surfboard on top. They’ve done lots of work on the car, but admitted more is needed.
“It’s a work in progress,” Linda said.
Some car owners took advantage of the crowd to offer their wheels for sale. Duane Sheldon, wearing a straw hat and sitting in a lawn chair beside his black 1966 Mustang, offered a discount price. Listed at $8,995, Sheldon quickly told a browser, “Take a grand off.”
Of course, the festival included booths with all the typical tasty food. Elephant ears, Philly cheesesteaks, pretzels, pizza, deep fried Twinkies, cotton candy and buffalo burgers were among the fare.
The carnival did a brisk business. Children holding their parents’ hand couldn’t wait to get aboard the next thrilling ride.
Lacy Hassett, 9, had a typical reason for preferring the Zipper.
“It’s really scary,” she said with a grin.
Nearby, Karina Aveler, 15, and Camila Avelar, 11, both of Woodland, enjoyed sitting at a picnic table in the park to taste their slurps.
Carl Schmitz and his wife, Rose, also were among those who didn’t need to take a carnival ride or look inside a vintage car’s engine to enjoy the 92nd annual Planters Days festival. They were content to sit in the shade of Horseshoe Lake Park and do some people watching. Carl said the most fun comes from simply seeing who’s there.
“Seeing the people and seeing if there’s anyone you know,” he said. “The carnival is bigger than it used to be. There’s a lot of people having a lot of fun. We say we’ve seen it all, but it’s always fun every year.”
