Though the majority of the Sportsman’s Holiday festival has been canceled, some events will take place, including the Cut the Gut cruise through Sweet Home and the Sportsman’s Holiday Court Coronation.
Due to the coronavirus shutdown of federal offices, the Sportsman’s Holiday fireworks show is off this year.
Josh Marvin, president of the Sweet Home Volunteer Firefighters Association, which stages the annual event on Foster Dam, said that organizers have been unable to get permits needed to put on the show.
“We were planning on holding the fireworks show, but with the COVID-19 stuff, the federal government is shut down on that until September,” he said.
Specifically, the volunteer association needs to get a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is not processing application permits, he said.
“Without their permit, we can’t apply to the State Marine Board and the county for their permits. Obviously, without the permits, we are unable to do the fireworks.”
The display would have been held on the usual day, the Saturday of the annual festival, which would have been July 11.
Marvin expressed appreciation for the support the firefighters have gotten from the community for the show, and said any donations that have been received will be applied to next year’s display.
“I’m sorry we can’t do it,” he said. “It’s out of our hands. We’re looking forward to putting a show on in 2021.”
Meanwhile, the Cut the Gut run, which began last year, will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 9, starting at Sweet Home Choppers and finishing at the Oregon Jamboree office.
Vehicles of every stripe – hot rods, motorcycles, classics, muscle cars and any other street-legal rides are invited to participate.
Drivers can participate in a Poker Chip Run as they cruise. Cost is $10 for a point card which will give participants the opportunity to draw a poker chip at each stop on the cruise. Chip value is hidden and players won’t know what they win until the end. Participants can purchase as many cards as they desire for extra chances to win.
Register at: checkout.square.site/pay/694fc72627224cff9f825c81e1194b15. A link is available at the Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.
The Sportsman’s Holiday coronation event is scheduled to take place at 5:30 p.m. Friday, July 10, at Hope Church, 890 Mountain View Road.
For details, contact the Chamber of Commerce at (541) 367-6186.
A new event this year is a Summer Corn Hole Competition fundraiser for the Sportsman’s Holiday Princess Court, which will take place Saturday, July 11, at six locations: Cedar Shack, Friends of the Library, Trash to Treasure, Sweet Home Police Station and Apple Tree Home and Farm. Finalists will compete at Hope Church.
Each business is accepting six teams of two people each – a total of 12. Cost is $20 per team.
Register at: checkout.square.site/pay/b521d4e42b414c51b2edf17befa6d7ec or contact Nancy Patton at (541) 409-4276 or [email protected].
A link is available at the Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.