The Courier-Herald is excited to bring back our monthly “At A Glance” event calendar.
We launched At A Glance in December 2019, but printed the last calendar in March 2020 because of … well, you know.
Things have now opened up enough that we feel it’s time to bring the calendar back. So in the last paper of each month, you’ll now see a list of things to do on the Plateau that we’ve compiled for the following month.
Here’s what we found for July 2021.
Grace Point Church’s Freedom Fest
Grace Point Northwest Community Church will hold a public celebration for Independence Day weekend the evening of Friday, July 2.
They promise outdoor music, food trucks, face painting, an inflatable obstacle course, a bounce house and more at the Enumclaw Expo Center north parking lot.
The gates and kid’s activities open at 5 p.m., and the main event begins at 6:30. Make sure to bring lawn chairs and blankets.
Downtown Enumclaw 4th of July Parade
Enumclaw’s annual Fourth of July parade, organized by the local Chamber of Commerce, will start at noon Independence day. Participants in the parade are already locked in, but as always, it remains free to watch.
The parade runs down Cole Street, starting from Washington Avenue and ending at Monroe Avenue. It is expected to last for about an hour.
Arrive early for a pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., hosted by the Enumclaw Pro Rodeo.
The fair this year runs from July 15 – 18; hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Based in Enumclaw, it is the oldest fair west of the Mississippi river. It returns this year with carousel rides, slides and swings, ferris wheels and other classic rides. You’ll also be able to enjoy live music, monster truck racing, reptile viewing, vendors, fair food and more that we don’t have room to mention here.
General admission tickets (13 years-plus) are $10, while child and senior tickets are only $5, and military is $8. Four-day season passes for adults are $30, or $15 for children. Parking is $5 for a single day, or $18 for all four days.
The historic event takes place July 17 on Black Diamond’s Railroad Street.
The chalk drawing contest starts 9 a.m., and the donut-eating contest starts at noon. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., enjoy street vendors, food, live entertainment, tours of the Black Diamond museum, face painting and more. At 1 p.m., the vintage fashion show begins.
Presented by the Rotary Club of Enumclaw, the street fair in downtown Enumclaw returns this year from 10 a.m. through 7 p.m. on July 23 and 24.
It’ll feature live music, more than two dozen vendors and food and activities for kids and families.
A 5k race starts Saturday morning – to register, visit: https://www.databarevents.com/enumclawrotarystreetfair5k?calClick=true. The race begins at 9 a.m near the library parking lot.
To apply to be a vendor, email: enumclawrotarystreetfair@gmail.com
Wilkeson Handcar Races
The 46th year of the hand car races begins at 11 a.m. July 31 with a parade, beginning at the Caboose in the center of Wilkeson and winding through town. The hand car races, which involve teams of two or four speeding along railroad tracks, begin at 1 p.m. at Coke Oven Park.
The parade is free to all, and the hand car races cost $5 per person, per race.
Ongoing
Half Lion Brewing will be hosting a beer garden every Friday evening starting at 3 p.m. this summer at the Thunder Dome Car Museum, featuring live music and food. The admission fee is $1.
Sundays on Cole
Enumclaw’s open-air community market returns this year to Cole Street. Starting July 11 and ending August 29, local vendors and businesses will offer food, flowers, live music and more as four blocks of Cole Street shut down to vehicle traffic every Sunday. The market is scheduled to be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Concerts set for summer run
Both Enumclaw and Buckley will host free, outdoor concerts this summer. In Buckley, 90-minute performances will be offered every Thursday on the lawn next to the Youth Center, beginning July 8. Shows begin at 6:30 p.m. and will include everything from Elvis illusionist Danny Vernon (July 8) to country acts, R&B and oldies. Enumclaw also will offer five weekly concerts, kicking off July 30 and running through August.
Farmers Market each Thursday
The Enumclaw Plateau Farmers Market has vendors lining First Street every Thursday, stretching north from Griffin Avenue. It’s open from 3 to 7 p.m. and will continue through August.
Summer Story Time
Every Tuesday at 11 a.m., Aubree Axelson reads stories for kids and parents at Flensted Park in Enumclaw. It’s strictly a drop-in session, no charge and no need to register, organized by the Elk Ridge Elementary kindergarten teacher.
Wondering what’s up in Enumclaw?
Have a question about Enumclaw’s city government? Want to lodge a complaint or offer some positive feedback? The public has an opportunity in the form of “Coffee With the Mayor.” Jan Molinaro, who occupies the city’s top elective office, is available from 9 to 10 a.m. the first Monday of every month at Enumclaw City Hall, 1339 Griffin Ave.
Got a tip?
The At A Glance calendar publishes in the last edition (i.e. last Wednesday) of each month. If you want to submit an event people should know about, email alex.bruell@courierherald.com by no later than the second-to-last Wednesday of each month.
