Print
E-Mail
tool name
closeMeeker Days on the way
Annual Puyallup street festival brings in family fun and creativity
Joan Cronk / for The Herald
Meeker Days is on target and ready to rock and roll beginning June 20. The local annual celebration will begin Friday and run through Sunday, June 22, and festival manager Shelli Williams says even the Farmer’s Almanac is promising good weather.
“It is supposed to be sunny and warm, if not hot,” said Williams, who is counting on the promise of good weather to boost attendance.
This year there will be a new event, Lil’ Miss Meeker Days, which Williams said, “Is not a beauty pageant.” Competitors must be from Puyallup, Sumner or Orting and range in age from 6 to 10. The entry fee is $10.
“We are basically trying to find a girl who represents what Meeker Days is all about,” Williams said, “which is family, having fun and creativity.”
The winner will go on to represent Meeker Days at the Santa Parade, the opening of next year’s Farmers’ Market, as well as other local events throughout the year. All participants will be judged based on their talent, which can include singing, reading a poem, bringing their dog, doing an art project or twirling a baton. The possibilities are endless and there are no limits to the creative process for the contestants.
Every contestant will be given a T-shirt the Wednesday before the festival to accessorize by making the shirt dazzle with paint or any means they choose. On the day of the contest, they will wear the T-shirt with shorts, a skirt, leggings or jeans.
“No fancy dresses,” said Williams.
Lil’ Miss Meeker will be crowned on Saturday, June 21, at the Community Stage in Pioneer Park between 1 and 3 p.m. and she will receive a $100 savings bond. The runner up will receive a $50 savings bond.
If a pie-eating contest is more up your alley, Pioneer Bakery will be sponsoring one in the center area of Meeker Street and Meridian on Saturday. To sign up to eat one of the bakery’s yummy cream pies, check in at the information booth.
Approximately 200 vendors will fill the park. Festival folks will be working around the construction on Meridian, but Williams said there is a plan for that. For safety reasons, no vendors will be on Meridian across from the new City Hall, but antique tractors will be driving up and down the street, putting on a show. Vegetable and flower vendors will still be present on Saturday and Sunday, just like any other market weekend. They will be located in the Pavilion and the overflow will be on Fourth Street.
The presenting sponsor this year is Good Samaritan Hospital, and gaining sponsorship was a bit of a struggle.
“With the economy as it is, sponsorships are down and a lot more people are after the sponsorship dollar,” said Williams, who is grateful to Good Samaritan Hospital for stepping up to the plate and sponsoring Meeker Days.
If you want to hear some good rock and roll, don’t miss J. C. McCormick of J.C.’s Music and The Adventures (a tribute to the Ventures band), Nokie Edwards and Don Wilson of the Ventures. They will be performing at the Main Stage located on Meeker Street and Second Street Southwest.
Friday night, June 20, is a great opportunity to hear more local talent at the Liberty Theater, where you can enjoy a dinner show featuring Edwards and Wilson of the Ventures at 7 p.m. According to The Liberty’s Tom Neumann, Eric Clapton once said that Nokie Edwards was his mentor.
“He is an incredible guitar player,” said Neumann, who always tries to provide a venue for local entertainers. Also on the bill that night are Kent Morrill of the Fabulous Wailers and Neal Rush, who is formerly of Merillee Rush, and Paul Revere and the Raiders. Tickets range from $35 to $39 and are going fast.
Neumann, who supports and appreciates the local bands, said the rock and roll bands still want to play and he is happy to accommodate them.
“The Liberty has become a Venture’s hangout,” he said.
Plans for Meeker Days began in January and Williams works hard, right up to the very last minute, to be sure everything is in order.