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By Reid Thompson
Whitman County Gazette 

Oakesdale's Old Mill Days draws crowd

Revived celebration brings hundreds out for cars, parade

 

Reid Thompson | The Gazette

Classic cars dominated the Old Mill Days celebration and parade, accompanied by a number fire and other apparatuses.

OAKESDALE - Leading up to Old Mill Days, Mayor Dennis Palmer could be seen sweeping the streets in preparation for the return of the community festival two years in the making.

After cancellations in 2020 and 2021 due to pandemic mandates, this year's Old Mill Days was met with clear skies, live entertainment and enough parade candy to go around.

"It gave a chance for people to get out and visit when after COVID a lot people were anxious to," Palmer said.

Kicking off the weekend's events was an evening of bingo at the McCoy Valley Museum on July 15, which saw full attendance according to Historical Society Secretary-Treasurer Gail Parsons.

"There were people waiting in line for bingo," Parsons said. "We had a great turnout and a great crowd."

The next morning, attendees were treated to a parade down Steptoe Avenue and First Street, which featured fire engines, cyclists, two caged parrots pulled on a wagon, and a procession of classic cars teasing the car show that followed.

Spokane's Viper Car Club assisted with running the Open Car Show, which began at noon in the shadow of the festival's namesake J. C. Barron's Mill.

A 1930 and a 1934 Ford sit on the grass near the J.C. Barron's Mill in Oakesdale during the Old Mill Days celebration on July 15.

Thirty-one cars were in attendance, including a one-of-a-kind 1969 Cascade Cougar convertible, a 1930 Ford Model A Roadster and the People's Choice Award winner: a 1958 Oldsmobile Super 88 driven by Purple Heart recipient Carmelo Valle of Spokane.

At the McCoy Valley Museum, visitors had the chance to bid in a silent auction on local art, homemade cutting boards and birdhouses, and a golfing package for four, all donated by area businesses.

The afternoon's entertainment was provided by cornhole, egg toss and chalk art competitions.

To close the weekend's festivities, the pool opened for a midnight swim while The Hankers provided a live performance.

"It was just a good time to bring people in the community together" said Parsons, "The whole thing was a big success and we really appreciate the people who came out and supported us."

Author Bio

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Reid Thompson is an intern reporter at the Whitman County Gazette. Reid is enrolled at Syracuse University, where he studies journalism and international relations.

 

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