The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce Director Monica Budd was offered more than a dozen ideas for a Bald Eagle Days theme this year, but when it came to a vote from the board, one stood out, getting an almost unanimous vote: Bald is Beautiful.

“They thought it seemed like a fun, good theme,” Budd said. “Something different.”

“It’s about embracing what you have,” she added.

Or don’t have.

Bald Eagle Days will begin with the 15th annual Armstrong Memorial Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest at Strong Park on Friday, July 15, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is open to all ages, and there will be three age categories to be judged at 3 p.m.

The first annual Terry Bonny Fun Run, a two mile/5K run/walk will be held at 8 a.m. on Saturday, July 16, starting at the track at Wahkiakum High School. Runners will head down the hill, cross the Puget Island bridge, and travel a portion of Little Island before returning to the finish line on Main Street.

It will be a fundraiser for the track program at WHS, according to organizer Tina Merz.

“We’re doing it for the family and for everything he did for our community,” Merz said of Bonny, who taught and coached at WHS. “He was a pretty cool guy, a phenomenal coach, and track was his passion.”

Runners and walkers can sign up online at http://www.pugetsoundscreenprint.com or from 7-7:45 a.m. on the day of the race.

It’s $20 per person, $10 for kids 12 and under, and there's a special rate for families of five or more. Entrance includes a T-shirt that includes some of Bonny’s artwork. They can be picked up before the run or after the parade in front of Scribbles on Main Street.

The Cathlamet Fire Department will give tours and hand out popsicles on Saturday, and nearby, the Wahkiakum Historical Society Museum will offer root beer floats and train rides.

The Wahkiakum and Naselle robotics teams will be grand marshals for the parade this year, which begins at noon on Saturday.

“We’re excited about them,” Assistant Chamber Director Melissa Collins said. “It’s so neat.”

The two teams are planning a big float this year and will be available at a booth after the parade to answer questions and to demonstrate their working robots.

Music will be a big feature this year.

Live bands will play at a music festival at River Mile 38 Brewery on Friday and Saturday. On Friday, Lea & Mel will play jazz from 12-1 p.m. A country/folk band, Cloudshine, will take the stage from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Rosetan will play an acoustic set from 5-6:30 p.m., and the Mutineers will perform their country/punk rock sounds from 7-9 p.m.

The music starts up again at RM 38 on Saturday from 1-3 p.m. with a bit of Americana from The Pine Hearts. From 3:30-5:30 p.m., McKinney Green will play a mix of country and rock n’ roll. A honkytonk band, Wes Youssi & the County Champs, will perform from 6-8 p.m., and last but not least, Wylah and Guest will entertain the crowd with some trip-hop from 8:30 p.m. until the fireworks begin at 10 p.m.

The Spar and The Duck Inn are getting in on the action too.

On Saturday at The Spar, DJ Lance will play a mix of top hits from 10 a.m.-12 p.m., and again from 5-7 p.m. Cloudshine will play some country/folk styled tunes from 3-5 p.m. and Cheektet will perform instrumental jazz from 7-10 p.m.

The Duck Inn will have a stage set up at the Elochoman Slough Marina. Steelhead will perform classic rock from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, followed by a blues rock band, The Disasters, from 12:30- 3 p.m. Another classic rock band Cooper’s Money will provide the tunes from 3-6 p.m and the Nash Brothers will feature country music from 6 -10 p.m.