By Jason Miller
posted 8.19.11

Concrete’s signature summer event is back this month, running Sat. and Sun., Aug. 20–21. The decades-old celebration now known as Cascade Days brings the biggest crowds to town for two days of games, contests, and a parade that fills Main Street almost end to end. The celebration centers on Town Park, with most events occurring in or near it, and along Main Street.

New this year is a chainsaw carving demonstration by Country Carver Chainsaw Carving Show. Owners Dave Tremko and Debbie Anderson will carve both days and host an auction in the afternoons. On Sat., Aug. 20, they plan to present Mayor Judd Wilson with a carving for the town.

Old favorites return too. Visitors will find the parade, Firemen’s Muster, bed race, log show, and pie- and watermelon-eating contests are back this year.

Organizers are drawing special attention to the Pet Show, Jam and Jelly Contest, and Chili Contest this year. Entry forms for all three contests are posted online at www.cascadedays.com. Applications for parade entries and vendor booths also are available on the site. Organizers urge everyone not to wait until the last minute. Vendors are especially encouraged to get their applications in immediately to avoid ending up with a less-than-desirable location.

The event is popular with kids. For them, a line-up of games is slated for 1 to 4 p.m. at the tennis courts in Town Park. They’ll find a fish tank there too, as well as a dunk tank.

Kids and adults will love the popular eating contests. Slices of pie and watermelon await all lovers of speed-eating.

Live music is on tap too—and speaking of “on tap,” look for a beer garden hosted by Birdsview Brewing Co.

Yelineks chosen as Grand Marshals
The Cascade Days board has chosen longtime Concrete citizens Roger and Barbara Yelinek as this year’s Grand Marshals for the parade (see sidebar, below). The Yelineks are former owners of Cascade Supply and have been active members of the community over the years.

For more information on Cascade Days, see the schedule below or go to www.cascadedays.com.

Sidebar: Roger and Barbara Yelinek, Grand Marshals for Cascade Days 2011

Quiet and unassuming in the volunteer work they have done over the years around Concrete, Roger and Barbara Yelinek are being honored as this year’s Grand Marshals during Cascade Days, according to board member Bonnie Drake.

Roger and Barbara have been living in and involved in Concrete since May 1976, when they bought Cascade Supply on Main Street with partners Dave and Arlette Stewart from retiring owners Glen Chambers and Bill Ruyle. Both Glen and Bill had been working for the original owner of the business, C. C. Baughman, when they bought him out in December 1967.

It wasn’t too long before Roger and Barbara became sole owners of the business and became active in the community as Concrete Chamber members and Roger as a volunteer firefighter at the Grasmere Fire Department. They also have volunteered through the years lining entrants up for the Cascade Days parade.
Roger and Barbara have been enjoying their retirement since they sold the business to current owners Don and Carol Rohan in January 2004.

Congratulations to Roger and Barb as this year’s Grand Marshals! Enjoy your day in the spotlight.  —Dan Royal

Cascade Days 2011 schedule

Sat., Aug. 20
9 – 11 a.m.  Parade line-up
11 a.m.  Parade
1 p.m.  Parade awards
12:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.  Car Show
4 p.m.  Car Show awards (east end, Main St.)
12:30 p.m.  Chain saw carving (corner of SR 20 and Douglas Vose Way)
12:30 p.m.  Firemen’s Muster (Town Park)
2 p.m.  Bed Race (Main St.)
2:30 p.m.  Log Show (Town Park)
4:30 p.m.  Duck Race (Main St. at bank)
1 – 4 p.m.  Kids’ games (Town Park tennis court)
1 – 4 p.m.  Fish Tank (Town Park)
4:45 p.m.  Chain saw carving auction

Sun., Aug. 21
10 a.m.  Entertainment (Town Park)
11 a.m.  Pet Show (Town Park)
12:30 p.m.  Pie-eating (Town Park)
1:30 p.m.  Watermelon-eating (Town Park)
3 p.m.  Jam/jelly Contest (Town Park)
3:45 p.m.  Button-drawing (Town Park)
9 a.m.  Chili Cook-off begins (Town Park)
2 p.m.  Chili tasting/voting (Town Park)
3:30 a.m.  Chili winner announced
10 a.m.  Chain saw carving
4:15 p.m.  Chain saw carving auction