Sean C. Morgan
Sportsman’s Holiday will feature some new activities this year – and the return of a more traditional one.
A horse play day and a chainsaw carving event are being added to the festival schedule this year – July 7-10.
The Sportsman’s Holiday Court returns after an absence last year.
Sportsman’s Holiday will kick off with the Sportsman’s Holiday Court Queen’s Coronation on Thursday, July 7, at the Sweet Home Elks Lodge. Dinner is at 5:30 p.m. and costs $15. The selection and coronation begins at 7 p.m.
Tickets may be purchased from any of the six princesses – Tori Clark, Eleanor Hewitt, Brittany Nicholson, Megan Oberg, Sierra Swanson and McKenzie Yoder – or through the Chamber of Commerce, 1575 Main St., (541) 367-6186.
The annual Chips ’n’ Splinters show will be separate from the coronation this year. It begins at 7 p.m. Friday, July 8, in the Sweet Home High School auditorium. A dinner will be served at 5 p.m. and costs $6 with one side dish, $8 for two, $2 for root beer floats and $3 for a hot dog and chips. Admission to the show is $5. Proceeds go to the Boys & Girls Club.
In recent years, the coronation and Chips ’n’ Splinters have been combined.
“I think it’s fun,” said chamber Executive Director Katrina Crabtree. “It’s an added event, and the girls get their own show. It’s more formal. It’s coronation.”
At 8 a.m. on Saturday, July 9, the Rotary Club will host an outdoor breakfast in the parking lot behind the Rio Theater. Cost is $5 for ham, scrambled eggs and juice, with coffee for $1.
Following the parade, which begins at 10 a.m., chainsaw carving begins, also in the parking lot behind the Rio Theater.
Sculptors will put on a demonstration, carving two logs donated locally and delivered by Melcher Logging. David Hillesland of Lyons and Ryan Hanson of Reedsport will carve one, and Patrick Flanagan of Lebanon will carve the other.
Subjects will be Northwest wildlife – which ones to be deteremined by organizers and the artists.
The statues may be mounted for display locally, possibly by local businesses, or auctioned. Money from the sales would pay for the chainsaw event to continue next year.
The Rotary Club developed the idea, Crabtree said, and it received a $1,500 grant from the Linn County Cultural Coalition to help fund this year’s event.
Crabtree said she hopes the chainsaw event becomes a regular Sportsman’s Holiday “carving festival.”
At 1 p.m. is the traditional annual Logger Olympics at the Sweet Home Events Center, 4000 block of Long Street. Fireworks begin at the lake at dusk.
At 8 a.m. on Sunday, July 10, Horse Play Day equestrian events begin at the Outdoor Events Center. The event will feature barrel racing, pole bending, flags, birangle and four other competitive horse events.
The concept of additional horse play days had been suggested a few times over the years before the Sweet Home Rodeo ended for financial reasons.
“If we’re successful, we’ll maybe do a couple leading up to it (in the future),” Crabtree said.
The event is open to all.
The cost is $30 for pre-registration, $35 the day of the event. Ribbons are given to event winner. The event will also include two jackpot events, poles and barrel racing, which cost $25 each to enter. The events pay cash prizes.
Spectators get in free.
People may sign up for the event at a Facebook page dedicated to the event or by calling or visiting the Chamber of Commerce.
Kimberley Brock is organizing the event, and she is seeking volunteers to assist with the event. She may be reached at (541) 367-2015.
Crabtree said she’d been contemplating how to get “something like this” going.
“I’ve been thinking, envisioning something with horses. I got a quote from a rodeo, and we just can’t do it. There was no one to organize it, and then came an angel through the door. I’m really excited we’re able to even try something.”
About a month ago, Brock showed up at the chamber asking how to ride her horse in the parade, Brock said.
“Sportsman’s Holiday was always the rodeo for me. The barrel races, the cowboys, the horses.”
During their conversation, she told Crabtree about horse play days. Crabtree asked her if she could organize an event and start bringing horses back to Sweet Home.
She would like to see a series of three play day events each year, with the final one during Sportsman’s Holiday.
“I’m excited about it,” Brock said. “I’m really excited to bring horses back. I really think adding a play day in could be something pretty big with support from the community.”
Other events will continue as usual, including the Gospel Jamboree at Sankey Park from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday
Several bazaars are scheduled, including the Singing Christmas Tree in front of Sweet Home High School from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 9.
East Linn Museum’s bazaar runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 8-9.
The Sweet Home Elks will serve breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. July 9-10.