Bald Eagle Festival to be bigger, better this year

The 27th annual Bald Eagle festival is certain to be bigger and better than before. The celebration kicks off Friday, July 18 with a dance at City Dock featuring the band “Quick Release.”

Saturday, the parade will march down Main Street beginning at 11 a.m. Immediately following the parade at 12:15 p.m., the public is encouraged to congregate in front of the Scarborough Building for a community photo to be taken by Dimmick Photography at 12:30 p.m. “This is going to be huge! They are the best in the business,” said Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tanja Winebrenner.

Beginning at1 p.m., a children’s pavilion will be open in the Bank of the Pacific parking lot. Organizers of this year’s festival have arranged for a large inflatable slide for kids of all ages.

Carrie Kennedy and Sarah Flohr will provide entertainment for kids at the beginning of every hour including a watermelon seed spitting contest.

“One of the reasons this year's Bald Eagle is going to be so much bigger and better is we have some great sponsorship behind us,” Winebrenner said.

The Bank of the Pacific has made a generous donation for the radio advertising and the celebration ending fireworks show.

The majority of the money for the festival was raised from the crab and oyster feed which was held in March, Winebrenner said. “That is basically the fundraiser that pays for Bald Eagle.”

Saturday night, the “Floating Glass Balls” will hold a concert at the Elochoman Slough Marina from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. followed by the fireworks show.

The Wooden Boat Festival will be held at the Elochoman Slough Marina from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday. There will be food and art vendors, a swap meet and a demonstration by Search and Rescue.