The 47th annual Summit Summer Festival will take place on Saturday with music, art, crafts, food and a parade planned from 11 a.m. into the evening at the Summit Community Center.
The festival — one of the region’s longest-running community traditions — draws generations of “Summiteers,” some of whom have called the small, close-knit town home for more than 50 years. Admission is free and open to all ages.
More than 25 booths will feature work from local artists and craftspeople, including hand-forged utensils, metal garden art, upcycled clothing, beeswax candles and soaps, doormats made from recycled tires, and hand-turned wooden bowls.
Several longtime festival traditions return this year, including a watermelon-eating contest for youth and adults, and a pie and cake auction. New this year is the 2026 Summit Festival T-shirt, designed by 96-year-old Summit artist Earl Newman, who has created the event’s artwork for years.
Also new is the 2026 “Paper Bird” raffle quilt, pieced and hand-quilted by the Summit Star Quilters, an all-volunteer group that has been active since 1972. The quilt will be on display at the community center along with a collection of other community-made quilts — raffle tickets will be sold on site.
The community center will also host Summit’s Community Art exhibit, and drumming and percussion instructor Michelle Lovich will lead activities for all ages.
One of the afternoon’s centerpieces is a second-line-style parade led by the local horn band DTW, with audience members encouraged to join in — dressed up, if they like, and carrying flags, kazoos, streamers, hula hoops or other noisemakers.
The festival is the primary annual fundraiser for Summit Community Education Outreach, a nonprofit that provides scholarships to each graduating senior in the Summit area and supports the Summit Community Center as a free community space.
Organizers ask that attendees leave dogs and alcohol at home. Because of dry conditions this summer, they’re also asking festivalgoers to be mindful of fire danger. Attendees should plan to bring their own drinking water and snacks.
To reach the Summit Summer Festival, take Highway 20 west from Philomath, turn right onto Summit Highway (U.S. Highway 180), and follow the road to Summit.