You might want to set aside some hours for a number of events going on right here in Philomath this weekend.
Saturday morning and early afternoon is all about fundraisers. There are three going on right here in town and it’s possible to hit all three — Amazing Grange Days at Marys River Grange Hall, Jumble Sale at Philomath City Park and a car wash at Beaver Auto Sales. And then beginning at noon, the Summit Summer Festival, which is also a fundraiser, will get started and if you’ve never been, it’s a fun time. There is also a youth rodeo Saturday and Sunday. Keep reading below for the details.
Here’s a rundown of Philomath events and activities for the weekend — defined here as 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday — along with a selected few from neighboring communities.
Friday, Aug. 16
With a lack of local events tonight and weather that looks promising in the evening hours, it might be a good time to hit one of the local parks. This list was published back in May but in case you missed it, here are the options:
- Philomath City Park on South 23rd Street. Several amenities, two playgrounds, covered shelters that can be reserved, ballfield, Newton Creek, skate park.
- Marys River Park and Natural Area on South 11th Street. Lots of open space, 28 acres in all. Marys River, disc golf course, playground, nature trail with bridges.
- Flossie Overman Discovery Park on North 11th Street. Natural playscapes park with sand pump, boulders and logs plus a basketball court, swings and a slide.
- Westbrook Park on Jade Place. Neighborhood park with basketball court, playground, covered picnic area and a walking path.
- Paul J. Cochran Veterans Memorial Park on College Street. The city’s newest park, it includes a playground and benches.
- Newton Creek Park and Path that runs from Applegate Street west of 27th Street to Main Street. This is a paved bike path that runs parallel to East Newton Creek. Two playgrounds can be found along the way. The path on the north end connects with a trail headed toward Corvallis.
- Triangle Park. A neighborhood park, this spot has a playground area and small basketball court, as well as a covered shelter.
- Reservoir Park. Located on the east end of Applegate Street, this spot was the location of the city’s original water reservoir. The neighborhood park has great views, picnic table, park bench and connects with Neabeack Hill.
- Pioneer Park. This pocket park is located on Pioneer Street and features nice landscaping and a spot to relax.
- Dale Collins Park. Located along the highway couplet where Applegate curves into Main (look for the readerboard), it features public art, a bench and picnic table with shade trees.
Saturday, Aug. 17
The 45th annual Summit Summer Festival goes from noon-7 p.m. at the historic Summit Community Center. Admission is free and all ages are welcome to the festival. Live music and performances, 30 craft booths, quilt raffle, art exhibit, pie and silent auctions, food, watermelon-eating contests for youth and adults, and the all-ages marching band and parade are among the activities. And don’t forget to pick up this year’s festival T-shirt featuring Earl Newman’s poster art (apparently they sell out fast). To find the Summit Summer Festival, take Highway 20 west out of Philomath, take a right onto Summit Highway (U.S. Highway 180) and follow the road to Summit.
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Marys River Grange No. 685 will host its annual Amazing Grange Day from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Marys River Grange Hall. Activities at the sixth annual event include a rummage sale and pie auction (and by the way, if you don’t want to participate in the silent auction and you must have a particular pie, you can also buy it on the spot for $50). Proceeds will go toward the organization’s Junior Hall remodeling project. Marys River Grange Hall is located at 24707 Grange Hall Road.
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The Philomath Frolic and Rodeo arena will come to life this weekend (actually it gets started Friday afternoon) with the Northwest Youth Rodeo Association Finals. The action gets started at 8 a.m. with the youngest competitors in the PrePeeWee division (barrels, speed poles, dummy goat flanking and dummy roping). The Seniors, Juniors and PeeWees following with events that include team roping, tie down, saddle cow, bareback, steer wrestling, chute doggin’ and bull riding. Not all age divisions compete in all of those events. The full schedule can be found online.
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The Jumble Sale, a new event that’s serving as a fundraiser for the Build A Better Skate Park organization, will run from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Philomath City Park. You’ll find this activity at the park’s No. 2 shelter, which is located on the other side of the creek. We’re told that most everything will be sold for $1 but there will be a “boutique” table with items priced at $2 on up.
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Beaver Auto Sales, located on Main Street west of the 19th Street intersection, will hold a car wash fundraiser from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. You can not only get your car washed but enjoy a free hamburger or hot dog. Organized by the Iglesia Emanuel Church youth group in Corvallis, money raised will go toward costs associated with kids’ winter event trips.
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Philomath Museum’s “The Big Picture: American Quilts From the Volckening Collection” exhibit is up at the Moreland Gallery on the second floor. The show, which will remain in place through Oct. 12, features the collection of Bill and Linda Volckening with quilts that go back as far as the 18th century. On the museum’s ground floor, the “What Is It?” exhibition remains with objects that were used locally in the past and would have been familiar to most people living then — an opportunity to enjoy your encounters with the past. Philomath Museum is open from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Admission is free.
Sunday, Aug. 18
The Philomath Farmers’ Market enters its 13th week in front of Philomath Community Library. The event goes from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. with a vendor list that includes produce, other food items, crafts, services and information. The POP Club for kids is also available. The market accepts Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program cards and Double Up Food Bucks, which match SNAP purchases up to $20 each week for fresh produce and food products.
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The Northwest Youth Rodeo Association Finals continues today at the Philomath Frolic and Rodeo arena. Sunday’s events include barrels, bareback, saddle bronc and goat tying in selected divisions, which include Seniors, Juniors and PeeWees. An awards ceremony and raffle drawing will be held 20 to 30 minutes after the action wraps up. The NWYRA published the full schedule online.
