It seems there’s a new event every week when summer hits the Plateau, and from street fairs and parades to burly Scots and noble knights, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
However, COVID-19 has yet to dissipate, and with some experts warning of an increase of cases during the warmer months, some organizers may postponed or outright cancel their events, if necessary.
But unless that happens, consider this your guide on how to keep the dog days away in Enumclaw, Black Diamond, Buckley, and beyond.
CULPEPPER AND MERRIWEATHER CIRCUS
Coming to Buckley next Monday, May 30, is the Culpepper and Merriweather Circus, which boasts classic and unique circus acts from animal performances to high-flying acrobats and dare devils.
New this year, according to their website (cmcircus.com/home.html) include the Loyal Family 10th Generation Bareback Riders, Kelly Leeth on aerial silks, and famed cockatoo rescuer Logan Jiminez and his flying friends.
There are two shows only, at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.; tickets for the show, located at 29304 Washington 410 (next to Blue Max Meats) can be bought at cm-circus.square.site/. Online tickets bought before the circus day are $7 for kids 2-12 and seniors 65 and up, or $12 for general admission; day of show, tickets are $8 for children and seniors, and $15 for the rest. Little ones 2 and under can attend free.
Those who arrive before the show starts can enjoy bouncy houses, pony rides, face painting, and, of course, concessions. However, credit cards are only accepted at the box office and concession stands — other attractions may solely use cash (though the circus offers cash back free of charge).
The 90-minute performance isn’t the only way to enjoy C&M, though — a free tour will start at 9:30 a.m., and includes watching the tent raising, leaning about their animals and how they’re cared for, and becoming familiar with the daily operation of a traveling circus. Large groups looking to take the tour are encouraged to contact organizers ahead of time.
SPRING BEER WALK
Summer doesn’t technically begin for a week or so after this event, so feel free to enjoy the remaining days of spring on Enumclaw’s Cole Street with a cold one in hand on June 11.
You can buy tickets for Enumclaw Chamber of Commerce’s annual event, which goes from 5 to 9 p.m., at enumclawchamber.com/events or at the event starting at 4 p.m. General admission ($35) includes a collector’s tasting glass, a beer passport, and 10 tasting tickets. Additional tasting tickets can be bought separately. Check-in is at the Chamber building or Dr. Ossman/Hardings dentist office.
During the beer walk, you ca n buy up to six packs of your favorite drinks.
There’s also the VIP package ($55), of which only 75 are available. VIPs receive an additional 10 tasting tickets, an upgraded tasting glass, a SWAG bag, four special tasting flights (poured during live music), a charcuterie cop by Bordeaux Wine Bar. The VIP experience begins at 4 p.m. and goes until 7 p.m. VIP check-in is at Bordeaux from 3:30 to 5:50 p.m.
INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE
Cole Street will be shutting down, as it does every year, to make way for the annual 4th of July Parade, organized by the Enumclaw Chamber of Commerce.
Those simply attending just need to grab a spot to watch the spectacle by noon, when the event begins (though it’s recommended you claim your stake early, as this is a highly-popular event).
People who want to participate must sign up by June 13; forms to do so will be available at the Chamber or online sooon. Cost varies depending on the length of the float. Those who sign up after the deadline will be charged a $35 late fee. For more information, email Kerry Solmonsen at events@enumclawchamber.com.
Attendance at the King County Fair exploded last year after its cancellation in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Photos by Kevin Hanson
KING COUNTY FAIR
Tens of thousands of people flocked to the Enumclaw Expo Center in 2021 for the King County Fair, which is being held July 14 – 17 this year.
Billed as the oldest county fair west of the Mississippi, the event features live music and entertainment, rodeo competitions, FFA and livestock shows, rides and rollercoasters, and much more.
Every day will feature various ground acts and other entertainment opportunities, free to attend and watch. This includes BINGO, a BMX stunt show, a cake walk, mechanical bull riding, muttin bustin, a lumberjack show, Pirates of the Plateau, Reptile Isle, and an FMX show. For the various times these events are held, head to enumclawexpo.com/p/king-county-fair/ground-acts-and-entertainment.
As for the more limited events, Junior Livestock Show is planned for July 12 at noon in the covered arena; barrel racing on July 16 at 11 a.m.; and roughstock rodeo competition on July 16 at 6 p.m. (tickets are $18). More information on these events can be found on the King County Fair website.
Tickets can be bought at enumclawexpo.com/p/tickets. One-day tickets are $5 for kids 5 – 12, $10 for adults 16 – 64, and $7 for seniors; four day passes are $15 for children and $30 for adults. If you want to park at the Expo Center, one day passes are $7, while a four-day pass is $20.
Those looking to take full advantage of the carnival can buy an unlimited carnival armband for $25.
The annual Scottish Highland Games had been cancelled the last two years due to the pandemic and difficulties with international travel. It returns this year with live music, sword fighting performances, traditional Scottish Highland sports competitions, and activities for kids. Photo by Ray Miller-Still
SCOTTISH HIGHLAND GAMES
Scots of all clans will be descending on the Enumclaw Expo Center on July 23 – 24. The festival opens at 5 p.m. Friday and events go past 9 p.m.; Saturday from 7:45 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday from 7:75 a.m. yo 5:30 p.m.
This is an annual event that not only helps people get in touch with their Scottish heritage, but an international sporting event complete with the hammer throw, sheaf slinging, and — of course — the caber toss. Competitions begin at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Little ones looking to start their careers as Scottish Highland athletes can participate in their own competitions Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to noon, and then 1 p.m. to 4. Waivers must be signed to participate.
Each day of the event have a few unique performances to non-sporting competition to enjoy, like the Donald MacRae Pub Piping Competition in the Rampant Lion Pub (Friday at 6:30 p.m.), the opening ceremonies, parade of the clans, and massing of the pipes and drums (Saturday at 12:30 p.m.); and the closing ceremonies (5:30 p.m. Sunday).
There will also be live music performances from the likes of Men of Worth, Colin Grant-Adams, and The Fire, plus sword fighting and stage combat with the Seattle Knights.
One-day tickets are $15 for children 5 – 17; $25 for adults, and $20 for seniors and military with active I.D. Weekend passes are $20 for kids, $40 for adults; and $30 for seniors and military. Little ones under 5 can attend for free.
Pre-sale tickets bought online by June 30 are $5 off; they can be bought at sshga.org/2022-ticket-sales/.
For more information on daily events, the children’s passport scavenger hunt, vendors, food booths, and camping, head to sshga.org/.
Local police officer Arthur Fetter competes with his father, Jeff, in the Double Bucking event last year. Photo by Ray Miller-Still
BUCKLEY LOG SHOW
Hot saws, log rolling, and pole climbing — all this and more will be featuring at this year’s Buckley Log Show on June 25 – 26.
The event starts off with a parade of sponsors and logging trucks on Main Street at 10 a.m. Saturday, and competitions begin at the Log Show Grounds at noon.
Sunday events begin at 11 a.m.
Spectators will be split between an all-ages section and a 21 and over section, which includes a beer garden. There will also be vendors located on N. River Road.
The Wilkeson Handcar Races involves teams of two or four racing across a roughly 410-foot long track of railroad; the average speed of the cars reaches around 20 mph. Photo by Alex Bruell
WILKESON HANDCAR RACES
The 47th annual Wilkeson Handcar Races are looking for beefy competitors to pump a handcar as fast as they can down a 410-foot track.
The event, scheduled for July 30 at Coke Oven Park, starts at 11 a.m with a parade in the center of town.
The races themselves begin at 1 p.m., with sign-ups at the park. You must have a team of at least two people, plus a “pusher” to get the handcar going. The cost to race is $5 per person.
There will be a beer garden hosted by the Wilkeson Eagles, and a post-race party, complete with live music, is expected to be held at the Eagles Hall.
Vendor and parade forms are available at wilkesonboosterclub.org/parade-vendor-forms/; contact the Wilkeson Eagles for more information.
Washington’s annual Renaissance Faire at Kelly Farms features vast amounts of performances, from sword fights, jousting to juggling and magic, ax throwing and archery, and — pictured here — raptors and falconry. Photo by Alex Bruell
MIDSUMMER RENAISSANCE FAIR
If you prefer sword fights, ax throwing, and mead halls to the vertigo-inducing Shake Up and Viper rides found at most fairs, the Midsummer Ren Fair is right up your alley.
Hosted at Kelly Farms in Bonney Lake, the town of Merriwick will be open to the public Aug. 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Each weekend is themed: the first is Masked Marauders, which includes a masquerade ball on Friday evening; Fairytales and Fantasy Adventures for the second, when attendees are encouraged to dress up as their favorite fairytale character; and Across the Multiverse on the third, for all those sci-fi and superhero fans who want to get in on the medieval revelry.
Finally, there is a long list of varied scheduled performances every day, from storytellers to jousting, raptors and stunting, and — for those who stay late enough — 21+ themed parties at the various pub houses.
For more information or to buy tickets head to washingtonfaire.com/. General admission (13+) are $25, seniors (60+) or military $20, and children up to 12 are free. Those who want to attend late night events after 7 p.m. must buy separate tickets for $16.
Those who have far to travel should also check out camping packages, which include admission.
Pictured is Cole Snyder in the 2019 Enumclaw Pro Rodeo. Photo by Ray Miller-Still
PRO RODEO
Prep your lasso and hold onto your cowboy hat — the Enumclaw Pro Rodeo is returning to the Enumclaw Expo Center Aug. 26 – 28; events on Friday and Saturday begin at 7 p.m. Gates open at 4 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. respectively.
While the Pro Rodeo website (enumclawprorodeo.com/) appears up-to-date with this year’s event days and times, the website appears to not be updated with other 2022 info.
That said, organizers emailed the Courier-Herald with this year’s live music concert performers: Friday night is the Brewers Grade Band; Saturday before the rodeo will be Sammy Steele, and Aaron Crawford takes the stage after the competition.
This year’s Rodeo Queens are Miss Enumclaw Pro Rodeo Ashley Jerkie and Miss Teen Rodeo Shelby Hoff.
Tickets are expected to go on sale May 27.
You can continue to check the website for more information or head to the Pro Rodeo’s Facebook page (facebook.com/Enumclaw-Pro-Rodeo-901802813202903/) for updates as well.
LABOR DAYS
The summer season rounds out in Black Diamond with the city’s annual Labor Days festival from Sept. 3 – 5.
Festivities begin at 8:30 p.m. Saturday with a free movie, to be determined at a later date, at the Black Diamond Elementary school field.
Sunday is followed by Doggie Day, a pie baking contest, and games for women and kids like watermelon eating contests, nail pounding, and the mummy wrap. There will also be live music and various vendors and booths.
Monday begins with a Masonic Hall breakfast and, at 10 a.m., a parade down state Route 410 (commuters, be prepared for a closure)., followed by more field games.
The event is free; for more information, head to blackdiamondlabordays.org.
