What is there to do in Packwood?
The staff at Destination Packwood’s Visitor Center hears this question almost every day, but it isn’t a hard question to answer. There’s no end of activities throughout the year to keep locals and visitors busy.
In addition to the two well-known and popular flea markets on Memorial and Labor Day weekends and Mountain Festival the first weekend in May, there is free Fireside Music Saturday nights, a chicken barbecue in July and a beef barbecue in August, Summer Rod Run in July, and Packtoberfest (Packwood’s own Oktoberfest) the last weekend of September. These are all in addition to craft fairs, museum talks, classes, and tours.
This will also be the first year to experience all that Packwood and their partners have to offer at a farm-to-table dinner on August 25. Ticket holders will be able to enjoy local artists’ music while dining on a beautiful dinner locally sourced while sitting riverfront at beautiful Tatoosh Meadows. Local craft beer and Yakima Valley wine will be featured.
The free Fireside Music on Saturday nights at 7 pm is now in its third season and has grown in popularity every year. Artists hail from the local area, Portland, and in the North Sound area. There are always free s’mores and hotdogs, snacks, and beverages to purchase. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy the music, visiting with your neighbors, and of course, dancing happens often!
Packwood Improvement Club hosts a fundraiser every year for the locals and visitors close to the 4th of July, with this year’s being July 1. For $10 you get a half a barbecue chicken with all the fixings. Held in the PIC park behind the community center, this is a popular event with several visitors returning every year just for this event. Likewise, the fire department hosts a fundraiser every year in August and serve barbecue beef. This year will be held on August 5 at the Packwood fire department.
The Packwood Summer Rod Run is a free event to spectators! This event will be held on July 28 and 29 on the lawn of the Cowlitz River Lodge. There are over 100 cars that enter for you to view.
This will be the second year for Packtoberfest. This event has something for everyone: Great food, games including a cornhole tournament, vendors including jewelry, sponsors, local businesses, and souvenirs. There will be great German bands, a dance floor and of course, beer! This year a kids’ area will be set up on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. that will include their very own root beer garden, activities and games. This event starts Friday evening, September 28 and ends with a German breakfast on Sunday morning, September 30.
In addition to these events, there are hundreds of hiking trails, swimming at Packwood lake, fishing, and in the winter skiing and hunting. Packwood provides year-round activities and truly is an outdoor adventure getaway.
Visit destinationpackwood.com for additional information on these and many more events and activities.
