Old friends, new fun: Railroad Days bringing secret surprises

“We’re doing pretty well in the ‘new’ department!” Sue Van Gerpen says as she ticks off the additions to Railroad Days festivities. New to the annual Snoqualmie celebration, or returning after a long hiatus this year, are the balloon pop prize give-away, a pre-event Hobo Feed to benefit the festival, the return of Dan the Lego Man, a chance for young painters to join the Plein Air Paint Out, and a growing carnival atmosphere for the children’s area.

By Carol Ladwig • August 16, 2012 1:22 pm
The Clan Gordon Pipe Band marches in the Railroad Days parade; they're scheduled to return
The Clan Gordon Pipe Band marches in the Railroad Days parade; they're scheduled to return

“We’re doing pretty well in the ‘new’ department!” Sue Van Gerpen says as she ticks off the additions to Railroad Days festivities.

New to the annual Snoqualmie celebration, or returning after a long hiatus this year, are the balloon pop prize give-away, a pre-event Hobo Feed to benefit the festival, the return of Dan the Lego Man, a chance for young painters to join the Plein Air Paint Out, and a growing carnival atmosphere for the children’s area.

The United Northwest Model Railroad Club will be back with their model trains display, but in a new home, American Legion Post 79, and, Van Gerpen, the marketing manager of the Northwest Railway Museum and Railroad Days chairperson, promises, “We have a very cool surprise that will be at the start of the parade.”

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

With no chance of discovering the surprise early, we move on to the old favorites.

Snoqualmie firefighters will serve up a pancake breakfast as their annual fund-raiser Saturday, and those who want to earn their pancakes will be lined up for the 5K fun run at 9 a.m. in downtown Snoqualmie. Trains will run on their extended weekend schedule, starting Friday and wagon rides return to Falls Avenue from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday. The food court is filled up, and there are plenty of vendors. Artists will set up supplies and capture scenes of Snoqualmie all day Saturday during the Plein Air Paint Out, and you’ll find action at the Depot, including “Little Bollywood” on the arts stage at noon Sunday. A full line-up of performers are scheduled for each of the three stages (main, arts and children’s), with enough musical variety to satisfy all tastes. Perennial favorites like the Left Coast Gypsies and Cascade Jazz share the billing with (there’s that word again) new must-see acts from 14-year-old blues phenomenon Nolan Garrett, and Seattle-area alt-country rock band Sightseer.

 

An old favorite will also be returning as Grand Marshal of the parade. Former Railroad Days chairperson Lisa Schaffer and her husband Jim, who just retired as Snoqualmie Police Chief in July, have earned the honors this year.

Learn more at http://www.railroaddays.com/