Annual Rainier Days celebration returns

It’s that time of year again for Rainier Days in the Park. Taking place the weekend after the 4th of July, this annual event has a long legacy in Rainier. Having originally started in the 1950s, the event disappeared in the 80s but made a comeback in the 90s, according to Rainier Mayor Jerry Cole.

“The city's never hosted it, it's always been run by outside organizations,” said Cole. “From 1992 to 1997, it was sponsored by the Rainier Chamber of Commerce, and then, from 1998 to 2010, it was run by the Rainier Eagles. From 2011 to the present, it's been run by just myself, my family, and some community volunteers.”

Mayor Cole decided to personally take on the task following the untimely passing of Rainier Chief of Police Ralph Painter. “When Chief Painter died in the line of duty, our community was hurting,” said Cole. “So, to just keep that alive, I said, ‘Well, I guess I'll do it.’ To honor [Painter’s] memory, he was our Grand Marshal for 2011. A lot of people don't know but, since 2011, I've designed the logo every year, and I have a little blue ribbon in his honor. If you look at every one of the logos from 2011, you can find the blue ribbon in the logo, even this year.”

Mayor Cole, his family, and volunteers work hard to bring the event to life, along with support from local sponsors that include Re/Max Power Pros’ Teevin Brothers and Dennis O’Brien as title sponsors for the 2025 event.

“It's a lot of administrative work,” said Cole. “We have over 100 vendors, music, a stage, porta potties, fireworks, event insurance, and the carnival. All of that work is done by my daughter (Brooke), my wife (Christy), and me. We're the only ones that organize all this stuff ahead of time, and then we have a team of volunteers that help during the event. I was able to get us to a point where the money that we raised this year actually pays for next year, so we're sustainable; but, it's still a lot of work.”

The hard work definitely pays off as the festival draws thousands over the course of the weekend from all around the region. According to Cole, they typically sell around 1,000 pre-sale tickets to the carnival. Another benefit, aside from family fun, is the impact on local commerce. “A lot of people look forward to the event and plan family reunions around it. The other thing it provides is support for our local businesses. People do visit the businesses, and they definitely see a boost.”

Local businesses and organizations also arrange special events to time with the festival. Evergreen Pub & Cafe, located at 115 E. 1st street, is hosting an all-day, luau-themed pork roast on Saturday, July 12, and the Rainier Senior Center is selling breakfast-to-go as a fundraiser on Sunday, July 13, prior to Sunday Church Services which start at 11 a.m. in the park. They will be selling biscuits and gravy or a breakfast burrito for $10 from 8 to 10 a.m. at the front door at their 48 W. 7th Street location. There is also a cornhole tournament on July 12, with cash prizes for a $50 registration fee per team as a fundraiser for Rainier girls basketball.

This year’s event has a lot to discover. In addition to the carnival and live music are “walking entertainment” such as a magician, a range of vendors offering a curated food selection, and kiosks selling other goods.

A favorite element is the parade, an event staple dating back decades, which is open to anyone who wants to participate. “This year's theme is Christmas in July,” said Cole. “I thought, ‘Well, that'd be kind of fun. Everybody's got Christmas decorations at home, it wouldn't cost much to decorate your parade entry, and everybody loves Christmas,’ so we decided to do Christmas in July this year. The event kicks off Friday, July 11 at 3 p.m., and then the parade is Saturday, July 12, at 10 a.m. We start up Rainier Boulevard, and it just kind of comes through some residential areas and ends up at the park.”

This year’s Grand Marshals are longtime Rainier residents and President and Vice President of the Rainier Oregon Historical Museum (ROHM) Kay Heflin and Duane Bernard. Located at 700 West A Street - just west of Rainier City Park - ROHM will have an informational booth during the festival. The day of the parade will also be on the 10th anniversary of ROHM’s first meeting, when it was voted to establish a new Rainier historical museum.

The carnival features a range of rides with names such as Zero Gravity, Dive Bomber, Monster Trucks, Flying Dragoon, Extreme Scream, Pineapple Express, Fireball, Monkey Maze, Puppy Roll, Toon Cars, Vertigo, and the iconic Expo Wheel.

Rainier Days in the Park opens Friday, July 11 at 3 p.m. with carnival tickets available for purchase on-site. Music begins Friday and runs all day Saturday. See Rainier calendar of events for full details or visit the event website at rainierdaysinthepark.com.