From carnivals and renaissance fairs to chainsaws and rodeos, summertime is when the Plateau comes alive.
Of course, COVID-19 has changed things around a bit for everyone, so before you head off to whatever event you’re planning to attend, double check that you’re in compliance with what local or statewide restrictions may be in place before arriving.
With that said, consider this a master list of all that’s happening in the Black Diamond, Enumclaw, Buckley, and Bonney Lake areas for the next several months.
After having to cancel last year’s parade due to the coronavirus pandemic, Enumclaw will once again be closing Cole Street for the Independence Day Parade this year. Photo by Kevin Hanson
INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE
Enumclaw’s annual Fourth of July parade, organized by the local Chamber of Commerce, is set and ready to march down Cole Street starting at noon.
As always, the parade is free for all to watch.
However, if you’d like to be a part of the festivities, entries are due Monday, June 14; floats that are under 100 feet long cost $50 to enter, and floats that are more than 100 feet long cost $100. To enter, download the application form at www.enumclawchamber.com/ and email the form to events@enumclawchamber.com.
THE KING COUNTY FAIR
With COVID restrictions expected to ease by June 30, fans of the Enumclaw Expo Center’s King County Fair look to be able to expect an event much like past years.
“We are probably going to feel like somewhat a normal fair, with protocols in place,” Rene Popke, Enumclaw Expo director and fair manager said in an interview. “Right now, we’re planning on having a full carnival, vendors, [and] main stage [entertainment].”
The fair this year is running 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.
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.
Don’t forget to add parking costs as well — it’s $5 for a single day, or $18 for all four days.
Here’s a quick breakdown of some of the entertainment available at the fair this year. For more information, head to https://www.kingcofair.com/music-schedule:
Thursday, July 15
• Music and entertainment to be determined.
Friday, July 16
• Seattle-based country musician Aaron Crawford will take to the Food Court Stage from 4 to 6 p.m.
• The Rough Stock Rodeo, new to the fair this year, will take place at the Expo Center’s rodeo arena starting at 6 p.m. (Rough Stock rodeos focus on saddle bronc, bareback riding, and bull riding.)
• The Beatnicks, a Seattle-based classic rock band, plans to perform at the Food Court State from 7 to 9 p.m.
Saturday, July 17
• The day starts out with Barrel Racing at the rodeo arena at 11 a.m.
• Country musician Chad Bushnell then takes the Food Court stage from 5 to 7 p.m.
• Jessie Leigh, a country/rock artist, then takes over the Food Court stage from 8 to 10 p.m.
Sunday, July 18
• The last day of the fair starts off with Cowboy Church at the Food Court stage from 8:30 to 10 a.m.
• Elvis impersonator Danny Vernon marks the end of the fair at the Food Court stage from noon to 2 p.m.
All four days
• Reptile Isle, mutton busting, the Jet City FMX motorcycle stunt team, Straight Up Racing monster trucks, BMX stunt team, Pirates of the Plateau, and more.
To purchase tickets, head to https://kingcofair.ticketspice.com/2021.
ENUMCLAW CHAMBER’S GOLF CLASSIC
The 19th annual Enumclaw Chamber of Commerce Golf Classic is being held Aug. 6 from noon to 4 p.m.
Registration for the event is $115 per person, or $460 for a team, though you can be eligible for a $20 for having your own cart of annuals at the Enumclaw Golf Course.
“Golf is limited to 36 teams and we anticipate selling out, so sign up now,” said Chamber Event Organizer Kerry Solmonsen.
To register, head to https://app.eventcaddy.com/events/annual-enumclaw-chamber-golf-classic.
THE WASHINGTON MIDSUMMER RENAISSANCE FAIRE
Don your chainmail, rally the bannermen and get ready to party like it’s 1599 — the Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire returns this August.
The three-weekend event promises full-contact jousting, archery, ax-throwing, falconry shows, live music, comedy, improv and much more.
Artisans and vendors will sell a variety of setting-appropriate jewelry, clothes, metalwork and baubles, while meat pies, pizza, gyros and more fair food will be available on site.
It all takes place in The Village of Merriwick, a fictional, late-16th century village reenacted on the Kelley Farm at 19401 Sumner Buckley Highway in Bonney Lake.
Tickets are available online at https://washingtonfaire.com/, and at the gate. Tickets include basic day and weekend passes and camping packages.
The faire is open from 10 a.m. through 7 p.m. during the first three weekends of August on Saturdays and Sundays.
There’s also after-hours fun from 7 p.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, according to the Faire. Evening entertainment at the ale houses is for 21-year-olds and up.
Kids 5 years old and younger receive tickets for free. All sales are final, and parking in the farm field is free. Only service animals – not regular pets – are allowed on the fairgrounds during regular hours.
Each weekend this year will feature a different theme at the faire. August 7 and 8 is “Barbarians at the Gate,” promising feasts, mead, and the chance to mock-pillage the artisans. There will also be a Viking-themed party Friday night.
August 14 and 15 is “Myths & Magic,” including fantastical creatures like elves and goblins and the chance to don fairy wings and other attire for a fantasy party.
August 21 and 22 are “Wandering Through Time,” a time-twisting event encouraging attendees to dress up as time travelers and other characters inspired by science fiction.
BINGO ON COLE STREET
The Enumclaw Chamber of Commerce’s popular BINGO days are back with two sessions on Aug. 21.
The first session is family friendly, and runs from 1 to 3 p.m.; tickets are $65 per table (up to six people per table). Tickets include 34 BINGO cards, six daubers, and snacks. Of course, you can buy more BINGO cards during the event.
The second session is more for adults, as alcoholic drinks will be sold. Tickets for this session, which runs from 6 to 8 p.m., is $95 per table. Tickets include 24 BINGO cards, six daubers, six adult beverages, and a charcuterie board from Bordeaux Wine Bar.
Both sessions will be held under the big tent on the corner of Cole Street and Myrtle Avenue.
You must buy your tickets in advance at https://www.enumclawchamber.com/buy-a-ticket/p/bingo-table (session one) or https://www.enumclawchamber.com/buy-a-ticket/p/beverages-bingo-on-cole (session two) — no tables will be sold at the event.
The 2021 rodeo will be taking place at the Enumclaw Expo Center Aug. 27, 28, and 29. Photo by Ray Miller-Still
THE PRO RODEO
The annual Enumclaw Pro Rodeo is expecting to come to the Enumclaw Expo Center Aug. 27 – 29; doors open at 5 p.m., and the rodeo starts at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, while gates open at 11 a.m. and the rodeo begins at 1 p.m. Sunday.
“As of right now, we’re not planning on any restrictions,” said organizer Jim Luty, adding that in addition to the bull riding, steer wrestling, barrel racing, and calf roping, “There’ll be vendors, there’ll be food trucks, [and] there will be music concerts after all three rodeos.”
Friday night sees country artist Aaron Crawford return to the Plateau, and Saturday night, Maple Valley country musician Dakota Poorman takes the stage. Rounding out the three-night event will be the Cedar River Boys on Sunday night.
To purchase tickets, head to https://www.rodeoticket.com/rodeos/enumclaw-pro-rodeo/2021/tickets.
BLACK DIAMOND’S LABOR DAYS
The city of Black Diamond rounds out the summer season with its annual Labor Days event, which is taking place Sept. 4, 5, and 6 this year.
The event schedule is still being workshopped, but you can likely expect a vast array of children’s games, a watermelon eating contest, a pie baking contest, a movie night, a doggy day, and, of course, the Labor Day Parade down SR 169 on Monday, Sept. 6 (which means traffic will be detoured around the city in the morning).
If you’d like to get involved with planning the Labor Days event, you can contact Frank Rinehart at 206-930-5171 or email him at farinehart@msn.com; similarly, you can also head to the Black Diamond Labor Days website at www.blackdiamondlabordays.org/ or its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BlackDiamondLaborDays/?ref=bookmarks for more information.
Two Buckley Log Show contestants team up to see which couple can hand-saw through a log the fastest. Photo by Ray Miller-Still
BUCKLEY LOG SHOW
Last, but certainly not least of the summer events, is the annual Buckley Log Show.
Normally held around July, this year’s event is tentatively scheduled to host the Junior Log Show on Sept. 11, and the main event Sept. 18 and 19.
If you haven’t been to the Log Show before, you’re in for a treat.
The day starts off with a 10 a.m. Main Street parade, which usually consists of large logging trucks and other oversized vehicles.
Then the logging events begin at noon over at the Log Show grounds, located to the north of the city before the White River Bridge. Competitions include speed climbing, where contestants race up a 75-foot spar tree; obstacle bucking, where loggers race across a log suspended over a pool of water to saw through a 14-foot alder; ax throwing; log rolling; and myriad other events that include chainsaws, axes, and flying wood.
Besides watching powerful men and women vying to be awarded All-Around Logger, Log Show attendees also typically enjoy various food vendors, a beer garden, and a live auction to help support the event.
For more information, head to www.facebook.com/buckley.logshow/timeline.
