Events on tap every day in the valley
You’ll have to work hard to avoid all the Labor Day activities this weekend in the Methow Valley.
Some are new, some are returning, some may be slightly revised, some are free, others come with a cost — although none of the fees are exorbitant.
Here’s a look at what’s happening over the next several days”:
Methow Valley Rodeo
The Labor Day segment of the 50th annual Methow Valley Rodeo, which complements the Memorial Day Rodeo, offers two days of action on Saturday and Sunday (Sept. 3-4). The rodeo features bull riding, ranch and saddle bronc riding, and barrel racing. Kids’ rodeo competition is are not part of the Labor Day event.
The Memorial Day Rodeo drew crowds of more than 600 to the Rodeo Grounds, just off of Twin Lakes Road about a mile west of Liberty Bell High School (follow the signs). The competition this weekend starts at 1 p.m. each day. Tickets are $15 for adults, $5 for kids 7-12, and free for kids 6 and under. For more information visit www.methowvalleyrodeo.com; or www.facebook.com/methowvalleyrodeo.
Duck Days
Winthrop Kiwanis, which saw the demise of its annual Bite of the Methow fundraiser during the pandemic, has come up with a new event to generate money to support its various community projects. Duck Days will offer a variety of family-friendly activities in Mack Lloyd Park on Sunday (Sept. 4) from noon-4 p.m.
The Duck Days event area will be cordoned off from the Mack Lloyd Park playground so others can use the park without paying to get into the Kiwanis event.
Duck Days will tempt you with “fair food” — soft ice cream, elephant ears, corn dogs and more — a beer garden, music, family games, a dunk tank, duck bingo, crafts, a duck shooting gallery, corn hole games and more.
Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for kids. Admission gets you one ticket per dollar to use for food and/or games except for the beer garden, which will be a separate cost.
And, the Duck Race
The Kiwanis annual Duck Race will be on Labor Day (Monday, Sept. 5). The race begins at noon when a couple of thousand plastic ducks are dumped from the Chewuch River bridge in Winthrop for a journey through the confluence before reaching the finish line at the Methow River bridge.
Each duck is painted with a number associated with an entry ticket. If your duck wins, your $5 ticket pays off with a cash prize. A total of $1,000 in prizes will be awarded for first through fifth places. Corporate-sponsored ducks will have a race this year as well. Look for the giant inflated duck to buy your tickets from a Kiwanis member, drop into The Tenderfoot, Wine Shed, Pardners Mini Mart, NAPA Auto Parts, Windermere Realty or Twisp Chevron to buy tickets, or visit winthropkiwanis.com to purchase tickets online.
Library flagpole dedication
There will be a flagpole dedication at the Winthrop library on Saturday (Sept. 3) at 10 a.m., honoring veterans who contributed to the project. Following the flagpole event, the library and Friends of the Winthrop Library will host a “watch party” streaming the National Book Festival from the Library of Congress in the community rooms. Harry Grant, who led the organizational effort for the dedication, will be on hand, and local student Olive Frady will sing the national anthem. The flagpole installation includes a plaque commemorating the military service of all veterans.
Book sale
The Methow Valley Community Center in Twisp is hosting a two-day used book sale to benefit the Twisp library, on Friday (Sept. 2) from 5-7 p.m. and Saturday (Sept. 3) from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., in the community center gym. Gently used books, DVDs and CDs will be available. The organizers asked that no commercial book re-sellers attend on Friday; on Saturday commercial re-sellers are welcome after 10:30 a.m. No electronic scanners at any time. For information, call (509) 449-2594.
Western Sale
The Methow Valley Senior Center hosts a sidewalk Western Sale on Saturday (Sept. 3), from 9 a.m.-noon at the Methow Valley Community Center in Twisp. Look for lots of Western clothing and other items at affordable prices. Many quality items, including Pendleton woolen blankets, will be available through a silent auction.
MountainFilm on Tour
MountainFilm on Tour returns to Mazama over Labor Day weekend with three days of adventure and inspirational films appropriate for all ages.
The event, launched in 2012 by Paul Smotherman, owner of the sponsoring North Cascades Mountain Hostel and founder/director of the Methow Film Collective, has been on a COVID hiatus since 2019. This is its ninth appearance in the valley.
MountainFilm on Tour will be staged at the Mazama Ranch House Friday through Sunday (Sept. 2-4) with four shows presenting more than 50 films over the three days. Three of the shows will be screened outdoors:
- on Friday at 8 p.m., “Medley,” a collection of short films on topics ranging from adventure to social justice and the power of the human spirit.
- on Saturday at 8 p.m., “Indomitable Spirit,” a collection of short films focusing on people overcoming great odds, including a presentation by sponsoring Methow Valley Citizens Council.
- on Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Ranch House barn, a collection of short films curated especially for kids and families.
- on Sunday at 8 p.m., “Big Green World,” films about innovators, visionaries and stewards of the natural world.
Bring your blankets and/or low-backed chairs.
Three-day passes are $60 for adults and $45 for those 18 and younger. The Friday, Saturday and Sunday night presentations can be purchased individually, $20 for adults and $15 for under 18; Sunday matinee tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for under 18. For information and to buy tickets, visit https://methow-film-collective.square.site. For more information or to purchase tickets, you can also visit www.mountainfilm.org/tour/stops/mountainfilm-on-tour-mazama-wa-2022.
Live music
Check the valley’s live music lineup on page A5. You’ll find a variety of eclectic offerings.
