Seventy-eight years of Morton Loggers’ Jubilees have seen drastic changes to the logging industry that created the event in the first place. But one thing has stayed the same for over half of the jubilee’s existence: the management.
Sonny and Linda Mettler have been running the event for as long as they’ve been married, 42 years. This year, they’re coming back with a bang from only the second missed year in jubilee history.
“The only time it was shut down before (2020) was during the war, World War II,” said Sonny.
The weekend features two days of logging competitions including log rolling, speed climbing, axe throwing and tree topping. There is also a parade, a Jubilee Queen coronation, lawnmower races and a flea market of 50 vendors spanning the whole weekend.
“We probably have over 4,000 people come to the lawnmower races and the shows. But (even more come to) the town, a lot of people don't come for the shows, they come for the food and the parades and the flea market,” Linda said.
Besides speed climbing, Linda’s favorite event is the coronation. The pageant is not a beauty contest, she noted. Participants have the opportunity to win scholarships, cultivate confidence and showcase their commitment.
No 2020 Loggers’ Jubilee meant no 2020 Jubilee Queen. Instead, Alayna Brindle has held the crown since her coronation in 2019. Because her duties mosty halted during the pandemic, extending her reign allowed her to participate in community events once they began to resume this year.
At 8 p.m. Thursday, Brindle will pass the crown to either Emarey Hampton, an incoming junior at White Pass High School, or Shelby Karns, an incoming senior at Morton High School. Read more about the candidates on the “Morton Loggers’ Jubilee” Facebook page. When crowned, the queen will act as Morton’s representative, her constituents the diverse crowds drawn to the jubilee’s long list of varying activities.
“For a lot of the old timers they just like to kind of be reminded of what used to be. For the younger kids there's just a lot of activities,” Linda said.
This year’s jubilee will also feature a COVID-19 vaccine clinic on Saturday. The “pop-up” clinic method was also utilized at the Packwood Flea Market over Memorial Day weekend this year, increasing access to the inoculation for east county residents.
The rest of the schedule for jubilee weekend is as follows:
Thursday Aug. 12
65th Annual Jubilee Queen Coronation
8 p.m. at Morton High School
Friday Aug. 13
Lawnmower Races
4:30 p.m. Gates open
6:30 p.m. Time trials
7:30 p.m. Races
Admission to the lawnmower races is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $5 for children ages 6 to 12 and free for children ages 5 and under.
No pets allowed in the arena.
Saturday Aug. 14
10K Run
8 a.m. at Morton High School
Registration opens at 7 a.m.
Championship Bed Races
11 a.m. on Main Street
“A New Vision for our Logging Industry” Grand Parade
11:30 a.m. on Main Street
Logging Show
2 p.m. in the Jubilee Arena. Gates open at 12:30 p.m.
No pets allowed in the arena.
“Harvey” — A play presented by ROXY Theater
7 p.m.
Uptown Street Dance featuring the “Harrison Street Band”
9 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the Gas Plus parking lot
Sunday Aug. 15
Logging Show
12 p.m. in the Jubilee Arena. Gates open at 11 a.m.
No pets allowed in the arena.
