As organizers of community festivals throughout Southwest Washington began announcing this spring they would be bringing back their events in 2021, Jerry Owens of the Napavine Funtime Festival held back on committing.
He wasn’t sure he would have the volunteer labor or the time needed to plan or that COVID-19 regulations would even allow them to have something this year.
But he was hopeful.
Last week, that hope paid off. A scaled-back version of the Napavine Funtime Festival is planned to take place on July 17. Owens said it was the announcement from Gov. Jay Inslee, that the state would fully reopen on June 30 and COVID-19 restrictions would be greatly eased, that allowed him to come to this decision. After having been part of the festival since its inception 44 years ago and after having to cancel last year’s event, Owens said it felt good to be bringing back Funtime Festival.
“I think it’s good for the community because nothing has happened for a long time,” Owens said. “This happening is a positive and I look forward to people showing up for it.”
With the exception of a bazaar/flea market that will be happening at the Independent Order of Oddfellows Trinity Rebekah Lodge on Friday, July 16, and Saturday, July 17, the Napavine Funtime festivities will center on Saturday, July 17.
There will be a breakfast at Rebekah Lodge, followed by registration for both the parade and car show. The parade at 11 a.m. will follow the standard Funtime Festival parade route through town and will be followed by the car show, the continuation of the bazaar/flea market at Rebekah Lodge and games, concessions and other events at the shopping center.
Owens said he hopes there will be a soap box derby as well as a few other events that have been in the works. How many events are possible that day really has to do with how many people in Napavine step forward to help out, Owens said.
“We just need volunteers,” he said. “We need people during, for setups, there’s always stuff that needs to be done.”
One event that will not be part of this year’s Funtime Festival will be the crowning of a new Princess Napawinah, the official royalty for the festival. Organizers have decided that Charlotte Barber will retain the title, which she won at the 2019 Funtime Festival.
Owens explained that because Napavine Funtime Festival and all other community festivals were canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Barber did not have the opportunity to make any appearances as Princess Napawinah, so the organizers decided to give her the chance in 2021.
A new Princess Napawinah is planned to be crowned in 2022.
Napavine Funtime Festival 2021
July 16
• 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. bazaar/flea market at Independent Order of Oddfellows Trinity Rebekah Lodge #179, 111 W. Washington St. Lunch will be available for purchase
July 17
• 7 a.m. until around 11 a.m. or until sold out, breakfast at Independent Order of Oddfellows Trinity Rebekah Lodge #179, 111 W. Washington St. $10 per plate for biscuits and gravy with sausage. Bazaar/flea market until 3 p.m.
• After breakfast, car show sign up in front of Annie’s Napavine Country Market, 114 Alder Ave. NW
• 11 a.m. – Parade (signups start at 10 a.m.)
• After parade – games, concessions, car show and other potential events.
The Funtime Festival is still in need of volunteers for this year’s event. For more information, talk to Jerry Owen at 360-520-4960
2021 Festivals Still Coming Up:
June 19 — Rochester Swede Day
June 19 — Winlock Egg Days
June 26 — Ride the Willapa
July 3-4 — Mossyrock Freedom Festival
July 3 — Oakville Independence Day & Scoot the Route Car Show
July 4 — Summerfest (reduced slate of events)
July 3-5 — Patriotic Revolutionary Encampment at Veterans Memorial Museum
July 8-11 — Toledo Cheese Days
July 9-11 — Lavender Celebration Weekend at Cowlitz Falls Lavender Company, Randle
July 23-25 — Tenino Oregon Trail Days
July 31 — Chehalis Fest
Aug. 6-8 — Antique Fest Centralia
Aug. 12-15 — Morton Loggers Jubilee
Aug. 17-22 — Southwest Washington Fair
Aug. 28-29 — Washington State Garlic Festival
Sept. 3-6 — Packwood Fall Flea Market
Sept. 5 — Rust or Shine Car Show & Music Festival at Veterans Memorial Museum
Sept. 18-19 and Sept. 25-26 — ARTtrails of Southwest Washington Studio Tour
Oct. 1-3 — Onalaska Apple Harvest Festival
