LA CENTER – Craving some late-summer, family friendly fun? You’ll find something for everyone at the upcoming La Center Our Days celebration, which kicks off Fri., Aug. 21 with a Twilight Parade and movie in Sternwheeler Park.
What began in the mid-1960s as a small town celebration has turned into a three-day festival filled with 5K fun runs, movies in the park, twilight parades, classic car cruise-ins, and street dances.
“It’s always a fun time,” says Suzanne Levis, chair of the 2015 Our Days celebration. “They used to have it on just one day, but that was too much. Now we spread it out over three days.”
Whether you’re coming for the car show, the parade, the annual “beautiful baby contest,” the free root beer floats or the musical entertainment, you’ll be sure to have a great time at the La Center Our Days. Following is a guide to the festival to help you plan your way around the three-day event:
FRIDAY, AUG. 21:
Twilight Parade (8 p.m.) — This themed “Back to the Future” parade will illuminate the night with its bevy of futuristic floats adorned with glow-in-the-dark accessories and strings of lights. Parade entrants will meet at the La Center High School by 7 p.m. to line up and be judged on categories such as Best Float with Theme/Illumination, Best Equestrian, Best Dressed with Theme and Best Car Club Participation. The parade begins at 8 p.m., traveling from the La Center High School down 4th Street and through La Center’s downtown to Aspen Avenue, then winding its way up to 5th Street and disbanding near Stone Creek Drive. Linda Tracy, owner of A Formal Affair, will be this year’s Grand Marshall. For more information or to register – cost is $10 per float, equestrian, marching unit and $50 for political entrants – visit www.lacenterourdays.com/twilight-parade or email Wendy Chord at Ramco@tds.net.
Movie Night in the Park (9:30 p.m.) — Bring your lawn chairs and blankets to Sternwheeler Park after the Twilight Parade and enjoy a movie under the stars. This year’s movie is “Paddington,” which brings the beloved Paddington Bear novels by Michael Bond to the big screen. Produced by David Heyman, of Harry Potter fame, the movie tells the story of a young Peruvian bear who has traveled to London in search of his home. Lost and alone at Paddington Station, wearing a sign that reads “Please look after this bear. Thank you,” he is picked up by the kind Brown family, who offer the bear a temporary home.
SATURDAY, AUG. 22:
5K Fun Run/Walk (8 a.m.) — Sponsored by the La Center High School Cross Country team as a fundraiser for their upcoming season, this donations-only race kicks off at 8 a.m. with a one-half mile Kids Race for ages 10 and younger. The children will circle La Center’s Holley Park, located east of the La Center Middle School at 1000 E. 4th St., La Center. Directly following the Kids Race, at 8:15 a.m., the 5K Run kicks off, traveling through La Center’s downtown, across the Lewis River and past the La Center wetlands. The course contains a moderate hill at the one-mile mark. Register by mail at P.O. Box 1840, La Center, WA 98629 or in-person on the day of the race, beginning at 7 a.m. in the Holley Park parking lot.
Annual Book Sale (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) — The La Center Library will host its annual Summer Book Sale during the Our Days festival, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday at the library, 1411 NE Lockwood Creek Road, La Center. Proceeds will support library programs, resources and facilities. For more information, call (360) 906-4760.
All Comers Cruise-In (10 a.m. to 3 p.m) — Calling all classic car fans! This popular cruise-in welcomes all types of vehicles from antique cars to hot rods, muscle cars, custom rat rods, trucks and motorcycles. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and costs $5 per vehicle. Awards will be presented throughout the cruise-in and dash plaques are available to the first 100 registrants. The cruise-in takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the grass at Holley Park, 1000 E. 4th St., La Center. For more information, contact Bob McCall at (925) 699-5697 or at bob@newstalgiamotors.com.
Holley Park Festivities (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) — Head out to La Center’s Holley Park, 1000 E. 4th St., for a full day of fun on Sat., Aug. 22. There will be a free Kids Zone with face painting, bouncy houses, games and activities; a huge selection of food, art and craft vendors; a “Beautiful Baby Contest” at 11 a.m. in the covered area at Holley Park; a BINGO game at 1 p.m.; a BBQ at the Holley Park Community Center from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., root beer floats; and a variety of musical entertainment on the main stage at Holley Park.
Beautiful Baby Contest (11 a.m.) — Come show off your beautiful little one at the Our Days Beautiful Baby Contest. Registration begins at 10:45 a.m. in the covered area at Holley Park, 1000 E. 4th St., La Center. The competition is free to enter. Prizes will be awarded in three categories: 0-6 months, 7-12 months and 13-18 months. A Grand Champion will also be named. Babies will be judged on natural beauty and personality. For more information, email Linda Tracy at linda.aformalaffair@comcast.net.
Musical Entertainment (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) — Get ready to shake, shake it off with a ton of musical acts at La Center’s Holley Park, 1000 E. 4th St., on the Main Stage. From 10 to 11 a.m., Marianne Flemming and Kevin Neil will perform their folk, jazz and Americana tunes. Then The England Trio, a blues-based rock and roll group, perform from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. From 2 to 4 p.m. it’s The Catillacs with their oldies hits. Come out and dance like no one’s watching.
Street Dance (8 to 10 p.m.) — If you’re not too worn out from the rest of the fun you’ve been having at the Our Days celebration, join neighbors and friends for an all-ages, free Street Dance from 8 to 10 p.m. in downtown La Center, between 4th and 5th streets on Aspen Avenue. Pull For Fire, an alternative, blues-based rock band will perform. The La Center band’s four young members – Blake Johnston, guitar and vocals; Bret Johnston, drums; Walter Hansen III, keyboard; and Jacob Mendez, bass – took first place in a coveted “Battle of the Bands” contest in Portland last year, and recently performed at one of La Center’s summertime concerts in the park event.
SUNDAY, AUG. 23
Buck-a-Bag Book Sale (10 a.m to noon) — Missed the Saturday book sale at the La Center Library? No problem. Head out to this bargain-basement, $1 a bag book sale from 10 a.m. to noon, at the library, 1411 NE Lockwood Creek Road, La Center. Proceeds will support library programs, resources and facilities. For more information, call (360) 906-4760.
Barbershop in the Park (4 to 8 p.m.) — Barbershop quartets will take over La Center’s Sternwheeler Park Amphitheater from 4 to 8 p.m. Come join the good, old-fashioned musical fun and spend a day with your neighbors in the park to celebrate the close of another La Center Our Days festival.
