Performances by several Pacific Northwest recording artists, parades, tons of children’s entertainment and, of course, bear stew will highlight the 59th annual McCleary Bear Festival this weekend.
This year’s event is taking place a week earlier than normal. According to McCleary Mayor Brenda Orffer, the schedule change was made so the Bear Festival would not be in competition with Olympia’s annual Capital Lakefair, which was moved up a week this year.
The festival kicks off at 1 p.m. Friday. The festival’s court coronation will be held at the VFW hall at 5:30 p.m., and Reptile Man will introduce a variety of cold-blooded critters to visitors in Beerbower Park at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday will feature the annual softball tournament, a kids’ fun run and parade, and the grand parade at noon. Bear stew will be served starting at 1 p.m. — but be quick, as there’s only so much of it to go around.
Jacob Westfall performs at 1 p.m. Saturday, followed by local favorite Ericka Corban at 4 p.m.
The softball tournament finals are Sunday, and the petting zoo and Kid Zone activities will continue until 4 p.m.
Performing at 10 a.m. Sunday is Kynan Shane, a blues and rock musician from Olympia. McCleary-born country music artist Brittany Kingery and Union-based country music artist Anna Robinson will perform in the park at 1 p.m.
A Kids Zone wristband, which give access to the pony rides, petting zoo and bounce house activities, is $10 for one day or $15 for the full weekend.
The theme for this year’s festival is “Safari So Fun.” The annual festival is the brainchild of Norman Port, editor of the now-defunct McCleary Stimulator, the local newspaper, who dreamed it up in 1958.
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2018 McCleary Bear Festival schedule
(All events are at Beerbower Park unless otherwise specified.)
Friday, July 6
1-4 p.m., food vendors
3-7 p.m., craft vendors
3-5 p.m., games in the park
5:30 p.m., coronation at the VFW hall
6:30 p.m., Reptile Man
6:30 p.m., Guns and Hoses softball tournament
Saturday, July 7
8 a.m., softball tournament
9 a.m.-7 p.m., food and craft vendors
9 a.m., fun run
11 a.m.-5 p.m., pony rides
11:30 a.m., kiddie parade
Noon, grand parade
1 p.m., bear stew service
1 p.m., Jacob Westfall performs
12:30-5 p.m., Kids Zone
4 p.m., Ericka Corban performs
Sunday, July 8
8 a.m., softball tournament
9 a.m.-noon, Bear Claw soapbox derby
10 a.m., Kynan Shane performs
10 a.m.-4 p.m., food and craft vendors
11 a.m., car show
11 a.m.-4 p.m., petting zoo
11 a.m.-4 p.m., Kids Zone
1 p.m., Brittany Kingery and Anna Robinson perform
