Editor's note: This story has been updated to include information on the extra Big Cheeses alongside Alan and Ardith Crawford
Starting Thursday, July 9, the 105th annual Toledo Cheese Days festival will begin in the South Lewis County community that is also known as the Gateway to Mount St. Helens.
Organized by members of the Toledo Lions Club, the theme for this year’s Toledo Cheese Days is “For the love of country and cheese,” coinciding with the nationwide celebration marking the 250th Independence Day on July 4.
The “Big Cheeses” for this year’s festival, who will also be featured as the grand marshals during the parade, are Alan and Ardith Crawford, and the Olson family siblings — Karen Grove, Mike Olson and Vickie Meyer.
While not originally born in Toledo, the Crawfords moved to the town in 1966 shortly after getting married and Alan got a job teaching with the Toledo School District, according to the official Toledo Cheese Days festival magazine.
“In 1973, they built a home on Plomodon Road and moved with their four children, Roger, Lisa, Angela and Jill, establishing a family home that remains their residence to this day,” the program states.
Along with Alan teaching and coaching youth sports in Toledo, Ardith has also long been involved with the Toledo business scene, having owned and operated a wig and beauty products store and an in-home center “that continues to provide childcare and preschool opportunities for Toledo families.”
As for the Olson siblings, the trio were three out of four born to Ronald and Velma Olson, with the fourth being Susie, and raised on the “Kangas Farm” on Toledo Salmon Creek Road just outside of the South Lewis County community.
“The Olson family has been a part of Toledo for many generations and that still continues today. All the Olson children would like to thank everyone for choosing them to (be) the Big Cheeses this year as it also marks the 20-year anniversary of their dad Ron when he was selected to do the honors in 2006,” the program states.
While all of the traditional Cheese Days festival events — such as free cheese sandwiches, frog jumping, the car show and more — are returning, some events are being added.
This includes an opportunity Cheese Days festival attendees will get to choose which of their various city officials they would like to see see hit in the face with a pie, including Toledo Mayor Cherie Devore, Toledo Parks Board member Kyle Wheeler, Toledo Utilities Clerk Sarah Hazlett or Toledo Public Works Supervisor Jon Cravens. A raffle to choose who gets to pie the “Toledo Bandit” of their choice will be held at the city’s Cheese Days booth at 11 a.m. on July 11 at the Toledo Middle School.
Inside Toledo City Hall, Cheese Days festival attendees will be able to share their thoughts and wishes for improvement projects on a “Wishing Wall” mural being painted by Emily Feigenbaum, another part of the city’s America250 celebration.
Additionally, at the Toledo City Council meeting on Monday, July 6, Greater Toledo Heritage and Horizons (GTHH) member Larry Davidson informed The Chronicle that the GTHH booth at the festival this year will feature historical steamboat artifacts just like the ones used on the Steamboat Toledo, for which the town was named.
Below is a full schedule of Toledo Cheese Days festival events running through the end of the festival on Sunday, July 12.
Thursday, July 9
• The Toledo Made vendor and artist market, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Art Gallery 505, located at 102 Kellogg Way in Toledo.
• The Toledo Thursday Market, from 2 to 6 p.m. by the boat ramp on Front Street.
• The Big Cheese Social, starting at 6 p.m. at Kemp Olson Memorial Park, located at 600 S. Sixth St. in Toledo. Aside from appearances and a toast to this year’s Big Cheeses, Alan and Ardith Crawford, country artists Dakota Robins and Mason Gaul will perform, and a catered dinner from Bonanza BBQ sponsored by The Paula Burrows Team realtors will be available.
Friday, July 10
• The 30th annual “Cheddar Open” golf tournament at the Newaukum Valley Golf Course, located at 153 Newaukum Golf Drive in Newaukum. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and is $80 per golfer. The cost includes a lunch, with proceeds going to the Toledo Lions Club. Tee offs begin at 10 a.m.
• The Toledo Made vendor and artist market, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Art Gallery 505.
• Toledo High School class of 1984’s reunion, starting at 5 p.m. at Bateaux Cellars, located at 288 Smokey Valley Road in Toledo.
• The Frog Jumping Contest, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Toledo High School’s football field, located at 1242 state Route 505 in Toledo. Frogs will be available to rent, and cash prizes are available for the top three finishers. The cost to race a frog is $1 per frog per race.
• Bingo from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Toledo High School, with proceeds going to the high school’s girls basketball team.
• Music in the Street, starting at 8 p.m. on Ramsey Way in front of Donna’s Place in downtown Toledo, featuring a performance by country music artist Chris Guenther. A DJ will also be spinning at the El Tejano restaurant, located at 115 Cowlitz St. in Toledo.
Saturday, July 11
• The “Cheddar Challenge” fun run and walk, with registration beginning at 6:45 a.m. and the race starting at 8 a.m. featuring both 3- and 8-mile courses. Registration is $20 per person, $30 to include an event shirt and $15 for just the shirt, and the race begins at the Lewis County Fire District 2 firehouse, located at 150 Coal St. in downtown Toledo. The race is sponsored by Toledo Girls Softball.
• The Cheese Days Pancake Breakfast, from 7 to 10 a.m. at the Toledo Senior Center, located at 150 Coal St. in Toledo. Plates are available for an $8 donation and breakfast options include pancakes with eggs and sausage or biscuits and gravy with eggs.
• The 26th annual Cheese Days Car and Motorcycle Show, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the field at the Toledo Middle School, located at 155 N. 5th St. in Toledo. Entry is $20 per vehicle and trophies will be handed out at the end. Food and craft vendors will be at the show as well.
• The Toledo Library Bake and Book Sale, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Toledo Community Library, located at 241 Cowlitz St. in Toledo.
• The Toledo Cheese Days parade, beginning at 11 a.m. at the intersection of South Fifth and Augustus streets, down Augustus to South Second Street then turning south toward Oak Street before heading west on Oak back to Fifth. Free cheese sandwiches courtesy of Toledo Market Fresh will be distributed after the parade along the route, and Toledo Presbyterian Church members will also be handing out free watermelon slices.
• The Toledo Made vendor and artist market, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Art Gallery 505.
• The Cheese Days Barbecue, featuring baby-back ribs, corn on the cob, a salad and roll for $12.99 a plate at Toledo Market Fresh, located at 400 Cowlitz St. The barbecue starts at noon and goes until the food is sold out.
• Toledo Fire Department Open House, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Lewis County Fire District 2 firehouse, located at 150 N. 2nd St. in Toledo. Free to attend, this event will feature family friendly kid activities, a cooling station and the opportunity to meet local firefighters.
• Toledo High School classes of 1955 through 1959 reunion, from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Toledo Senior Center, located at 150 Coal St. in Toledo.
• The Cheese Days Tasting Garden, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Steamboat Landing, located at 115 Ramsey Way in downtown Toledo, with proceeds benefiting vision:TOLEDO.
• Music in the Street, starting at 8 p.m. on Ramsey Way in front of Donna’s Place featuring a performance by Groove Syndicate, a 1970s-era funk, soul and rock tribute band, along with another concert being performed by Sucker Punched, a 1980s rock music tribute band, at El Tejano starting at 9 p.m.
Sunday, July 12
• The Cheese Days Horse Shoe Tournament, beginning at 8 a.m. at Kemp Olson Memorial Park. The tournament will feature beginner, amateur and advanced classes with registration being $5 per player.
• The Toledo High School all-class reunion, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Kemp Olson Memorial Park.
• The Toledo Lions Club beef barbecue from noon to 2 p.m. at Kemp Olson Memorial Park, located at 611 Cedar St. in Toledo. This barbecue costs $5 a place, and includes barbecued beef, baked beans, coleslaw, a roll and watermelon slices along with a choice of beverage. Following the beef barbecue’s end, Lions Club members will be auctioning off the leftovers at 2:30 p.m.
• The 22nd annual Toledo Volunteer EMS and Firefighters Association dessert auction, starting at 3 p.m. at the Lewis County Fire District 2 firehouse, with proceeds benefiting the Association.
For more information on the upcoming events during the 105th annual Toledo Cheese Days festival, visit the Toledo Lions Club at https://toledolionsclub.org/events/cheese-days/.
