Oakesdale Old Mill Days celebrates history

OAKESDALE —Just around the corner is Oakesdale’s Old Mill Days celebration.

This event this year starts on Friday at 5 p.m. with a Beer and Wine Garden at the old Fire Station.

Pulled pork sandwiches will be available at 1st Street and Steptoe Avenue from 6 to 9 p.m. and Bingo at the Museum from 7 to 9 p.m.

“One thing different this year is that we have live music Friday night and Saturday night,” Event Coordinator Gail Parsons said, adding that before, they’d only ever had it on Saturday night.

The Suits will entertain Friday night from 7 until 11 p.m.

Saturday, July 15, will begin with a pancake breakfast at the corner of 1st Street and Steptoe Avenue.

Parson explained that the local Oakesdale FFA group is making the pancake breakfast this year. Usually, the fireman hosts the pancake breakfast, but Parson explained that they could not this year.

“The FFA students stepped up to do that,” he said.

The Cake Walk will occur at 9 a.m. at the City Park until confections are gone.

Following the Cake Walk, the kid’s and pet parade occurs in downtown Oakesdale at 10:45 a.m .; the main parade occurs at 11 a.m. Those who want to enter the parade or as a vendor can find entry forms on the Facebook page.

The Silent Auction will occur in the museum from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. “We have a golf certificate for four with the Palouse Ridge Golf Course in Pullman,” Parsons said, adding that there is also a lot of local history of Oakesdale and the surrounding area found in the museum.

Vendors will be available for attendees to shop at Steptoe Avenue from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with kids games happening simultaneously in the park.

Old Mill Day’s fourth annual open car show will occur from noon to 4 p.m. on Highway 27 at Barlett.

“Last year, we had the Vipers Car Club from Spokane come down to our car show, and that went over really well,” Parson said, noting that they will come again this year.

The museum is also open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m .; food is available at 1st Street and Steptoe Avenue from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and the Beer and Wine Garden is open from 11 a.m. to midnight.

An entry fee is required and can be made at the Facebook page or the show.

The Egg Toss occurs at 1 p.m., followed by the Corn Hole Tournament at 2 p.m. at Steptoe Avenue.

“The Egg toss is always popular,” Parsons said, adding that the Corn Hole Tournament is another popular event.

Sign-up for the events is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with an entry fee per team at the museum.

The Sidewalk Chalk Art contest is at noon at the City Park, and Mason’s Ice Cream Wagon will be there all day.

The Desert Highway Band will play at the Fire Station from 7 to 11 p.m. for attendees to dance on the last night of the Old Mill Days.

The Oakesdale Park and Recreation are sponsoring a midnight swim starting at 9 p.m., and swimming will be available during the day from 1 to 8 p.m.

Old Mill Days began in the mid-’80s, Parson explained, noting that it was probably a craft fair and grew into a community celebration by individual citizens.

Parsons explained he shares planning responsibilities with Superintendent of Oakesdale Schools Jake Dingman.

Digman came to the Oakesdale Historical Society in 2013 to resurrect the event since it stopped in the late ‘90s to celebrate the 25th anniversary of McCoy Valley Museum and the 125th anniversary of the town of Oakesdale.

“The Oakesdale Historical Society does the food service on Saturday also,” Parsons said, adding that one fun thing they always do is have beer brats.

Having to take two years off during COVID, and finally starting again last year.

The Oakesdale Historical Society and the town of Oakesdale invite everyone to celebrate with them at this year’s 2023 Old Mill Days.