Visitors to Battle Ground’s 49th annual Harvest Days celebration on July 14-16 reaped bushels of fun at this year’s “Hometown Celebration.”
The festival opened on Thursday night with Buy One Get One ticket Buddy Day at the Rainier Amusements Carnival.
On Friday night, the fourth annual Harvest Nights Cruise attracted throngs of people to line Main Street while muscle cars, classic coupes, and unique cruisers paraded by. The Burn Out Pit, in the parking lot of Urban Basics, filled bleachers and lined the barricades on both sides to watch them “burn rubber.”
It was a smooth cruise, said Paul Montague, executive director of the Battle Ground Chamber of Commerce, which produces the Harvest Days events each year. There were fewer cars by design, limited to 350 entries, so that traffic easily flowed.
At the other end of Main Street, TLS The Journey Tribute Band, performed Friday night on the Main Stage in Fairgrounds Park.
Saturday dawned with festival-perfect weather. About 600 people enjoyed a pancake breakfast offered up by Clark County Fire District 3, assisted by the Brush Prairie Baptist Men’s Group and the city of Battle Ground, said Fire Chief Steve Wrightson.
Crowds lined Main Street for the DeWils Grand Parade. Ninety-four entries ranged from youth organizations to groups on horseback, and from local businesses to political candidates.
Natura Pest Control thrilled bystanders with their choreographed routine culminating in gymnastic aerial flips. Prairie Hatchers 4-H Club of Brush Prairie brought – what else – live chickens on their float, and the hens seemed surprisingly content to be parade chickens.
The Pacific Northwest Queen Rearing Club wore their beekeeper’s suits and wafted smoke trails in their wake. Horses carried rodeo queens, mounted patrols, and Mexican dancing horse riders, and pulled an old-time wagon for Wells Fargo Bank.
At the head of the parade was the Battle Ground Rose Float, winner of the Royal Rosarian Award at the June 11 Portland Grand Floral Parade, with princesses aboard singing “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B.”
A full afternoon followed as crowds shifted to the carnival, performers, and contests at Fairgrounds Park. The festival officially opened on the Main Stage with a rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” by Amber Sweeney, and 15-year-old Tyler Venneri was recognized for creating the winning design for the 2016 Harvest Days poster.
The carnival ticket sales were about 25 percent higher than last year, said Montague, and attendees stayed to enjoy the attractions in the mild, overcast weather. The carnival offered a few more rides than in previous years, as well.
A family stage was added this year in addition to the Main Stage, and featured youth-oriented activities such as a talent contest, youth performers, and the Pixar movie “Inside Out.” The new acts were embraced by festival-goers and bleachers were filled to capacity most of the day.
“I’m really impressed with the talent of these youth,” said Brian Teegardin, chairman of the Battle Ground Chamber of Commerce. Teegardin relayed a conversation with performer James Otto, who enthused the opportunity for youth to perform on a public stage.
Clark County Fire District 3 demonstrated its new and more powerful electric Jaws of Life, powered by a battery, which made quick work of opening up a wrecked vehicle.
The sidewalk was covered with dozens of bright chalk drawings for the Sidewalk Chalk Drawing contest. Off-site but drawing nearly a hundred participants was the third annual Geocaching Contest, which awarded a collectible geocache “coin” adorned with the Battle Ground Chamber of Commerce logo on one side, and the winning poster design on the reverse side.
In the skate park, Xtreme Amateur Games was back for the second year with a competition for skateboards, BMX bikes and scooters.
The weekend’s events were rounded out by a beer and wine garden, a rose planting at Central Park honoring 2015 Citizens of the Year, vendor booths, a tasting room and a kickball tournament. Down the road in Battle Ground Village, Friends of the Library held a book sale on Friday and Saturday.
A day of performances on the Main Stage culminated in Country Billboard Artist Otto, which attracted at least twice as many in attendance as last year, said Montague.
“People were enthusiastic, there was great energy in the crowd,” he said. “People knew his songs and were singing along.”
Montague emphasized the many sponsors and volunteers who contribute money or time to make Harvest Days possible.
“This event is a wonderful community event, said Montague. “People come together, almost like a mini high school reunion, to reconnect with the community. A lot of people really cherish it. The chamber is honored to put this event on every year. It’s a great community builder and a great way to celebrate everything that Battle Ground is.”
