GRANITE FALLS — Tina Messina expects to see many people return home to the city for the annual Railroad Days celebration.
As the parent adviser to the Granite Falls High School class of 2007, she especially hopes members of that class are among those who do. “All of them are my kids,” she said. “Everyone comes home for Railroad Days. It’s been a big to-do for years.”
The Railroad Days celebration begins Friday with a carnival from 6 to 10 p.m. across from the Granite Falls IGA at 115 N. Granite Ave.
On Saturday, the main day of the festival, events include a children’s parade at 11 a.m. and a grand parade at noon* on S. Granite Avenue. Vendor booths will be on S. Granite Avenue from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Granite Falls Museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
An estimated 5,000 people have visited the city during past Railroad and Reunion Days celebrations, said Messina, who has coordinated the event for five years. She likes to add something new to the celebration every year, she said. This year’s addition is family karaoke from 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturday between Alfy’s Pizza and IGA on Granite Avenue.
“Since I took over, I’ve tried to give something back to the community every year, and this is our freebie to the community this year,” she said. “We’re serving free pizza and soda until it runs out.”
The annual event was started by local history teacher Richard Fallis in October 1966 and celebrates a time, beginning in 1892, when steam trains chugged through the mining and lumber town along the Everett and Monte Cristo Railroad.
The celebration has grown to include several events. This year’s Railroad Days features a 5K run and walk, class reunions, entertainment, vendors and various family activities. Mike Trask, owner of the Granite Falls IGA, was chosen as this year’s grand marshal for the parade.
“He gives so much to the community,” Messina said. “He sponsored outdoor movies and he supplied everything: candy, popcorn, the whole works.”
More information and a schedule of events for Railroad Days is at http://tinyurl.com/GFRailroadDays.
All aboard
Railroad Days begins with a carnival tonight from 6 to 10 p.m. across from Granite Falls IGA at 115 N. Granite Ave. A parade is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday on S. Granite Ave.
Amy Daybert: 425-339-3491; adaybert@heraldnet.com.
*Correction, October 1, 2010: The parade times were incorrect in a previous version of this story.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
